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~ ROBINSON CRUSOE 


Boys AND GIRLS 


BY 


LIDA B. MCMURRY 


Primary Training Teacher Illinois State Normal University 


AND 


MARY HALL HUSTED 


_ BLOOMINGTON, ILL.: 
PUBLIC-SCHOOL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1896 


Copyright, 1894. 


¢ By C. A. McMurRrRy, Normau, Iu. 


Press of 
Pantagraph Printing and Stationery Co., 
Bloomington, Ili. 


TO 
Our Little Friends and Pupils 


WHO HAVE 
UNCONSCIOUSLY AIDED US IN THE ADAPTION OF 
THIS STORY, 


THIS VOLUME 
IS LOVINGLY DEDICATEv. 


PREPAGE. 


This little book is the result of much experi- 
-nce in seeking to adapt the story of Robinson 
Crusoe to the literary attainments and educa- 
tional needs of children in the primary schools. 
[t is supposed to follow the study of the ‘‘ Clas- 
sic Stories for Little Ones ” and to precede the 
study of the ‘‘ Pioneer History Stories,” which 
recount the stirring events in the lives of those 
heroes who first broke ground for our American 
civilization in the Mississippi Valley. Crusoe 
is the transition from myths and fairy tales, 
where the imagination is untrammeled by the 
‘‘practical,” to the study of real biography. 
Those events in DeFoe’s story that are of 
doubtful educational value are omitted; but it 
is believed that the child’s interest in the nar: 
rative is not impaired thereby. The language 
is that of children, and Robinson seems to be 
telling his story to them. It will prove to be 


4 PREFACE. 


valuable supplementary reading for classes in 
the second and third grades. 

The Appendix in the Teachers’ and Mothers’ 
Edition of this story, prepared by Dr. Frank 
McMurry and Dr. C. C.Van Liew, will be studied 
with interest and profit by those for whom it 
was written. The former shows the educa- 
tional value of the story, and the latter pre- 
sents a method of teaching it to children in 
the second and third grades. The authors 
hereby acknowledge their obligations to them 
for their able assistance in the preparation of 
this edition. 

THE AUTHORS. 


\ 


ROBINSON CRUSOE AT HOME. 


s a little boy, I lived in a great 


a 


When lw 
city by the sea, with my father and mother. 


They were very kind to me and loved me 


They wished me to go to school and 


dearly. 


learn a great deal, so that I might some day 


be a useful man. 


6 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


But I was lazy, and liked better to play by 
the river than to study. I often sat hour after 
hour watehing the great ships loading and un- 
loading their cargoes, and as they sailed away 
I wished that I might go with them. 

My father had told me that the ships came 
from lands where the men did not look like those 
I knew, and the plants and animals were very 
different from any I had seen. 

He wished me to be a merchant, but I could 
think of nothing but the ships, and I often ran 
away from my work to watch them. 

When I was sixteen years old, father said to 
me one day: ‘‘Robinson, I wish you to be a mer- 
chant. If you attend to your work, you shall 
some day take charge of my business; but if 
you are lazy, no one will have any use for you 
and you will not be able to take care of your- 
self.” He talked to me a long time about my 
bad habits. 

I thought about what he had said and made 
up my mind to work hard, Butit was not long 
before I began to think about the ships again 
and long to sail across the ocean. 


by ae 


AT HOME. 7 


Father saw that I was not doing my work 
well, andone morning he said: ‘‘Robinson, what 
will become of you? Do you want to become a 
eood-for-nothing, and some day beg for your 
bread?” 

I said: ‘‘But, father, I do not wish to be a 
merchant. I want to go away on one of those 
ships. It must be fine to be out on the ocean, | 
and I want to see those strange lands.” 

My father replied: ‘‘But, my son, if you. do 

not learn anything you will be of no use to any- 
one on the ship, and one must work in other 
countries as well as here. Youmust remember 
that idleness is the beginning of all mischief. 
If you disobey your father and mother and run 
away, you will sometime be sorry; for whoever 
disobeys his parents will never be happy.” 
\\ While he was talking, the tears ran down 
his face, and I could not help but feel that I 
ought to do as he wished, and I again prom- 
ised to do so. 

But very soon I forgot allabout my promise, 
and when my father was not near I threw my 
work aside, put on my hat, and went to the 
harbor. 


8 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


As I sat watching the ships, I wished more 
than ever to sailaway. Iknew it would do no 
good to say more to father about going; but 1 
went to my mother and said: ‘‘Mother, will you 
please ask father to let me go off on just one 
voyage?” 

But she would listen to nothing of the kind, 
and with tears in her eyes she said, ‘‘ Robinson, 
you are our only child, and if we should lose 
you, we would be left all alone. Your father and 
I are old, and who would take care of us if we 
should get sick? Do not make us unhappy. Do 
not leave us.” I said nothing more then, but I 
could not help thinking about a voyage on the 
ocean. 

Two years passed, and as I was walking one 
day along the harbor I met a friend, the son of 
the captain of one of the vessels. 

After talking awhile, my friend said, ‘‘ Well, 
Robinson, father starts for America today, and 
Tam going with him.” 

‘‘Oh! how I wish I could go with ee 
said I. 

‘*Come along!” said he. 


AT HOME. 9 


‘But I have no money,” I replied. 

“Rather will take you for nothing, I am 
sure,” saidmyfriend. ‘‘You can work for him.” 

Giving him my hand I said, ‘‘Good! if he 
will let me work my way I'll go with you.” 


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The ship on which | found myself, that bright 
September morning, was a large one. It was 
being made ready to start. Soon I heard the 
cry, ‘‘A—all ha—a—nds! up anchor,a—ho—oy!” 
At once everyone seemed to be filled with life; 
the sails were loosed, the yards braced, and the 
ancuor slowly raised. 3 

Orders were given so rapidly and there was 


THE VOYAGE. ga 


such a hurrying about and so many strange 
noises that I hardly knew what to make of it. 
Above all sounded the boom of a cannon; then 
the vessel moved slowly out of the harbor. In 
a short time we were under way. 

I turned to look at the home I was leaving. 
I could see the streets with the people passing 
up and down,the houses,and the gardens. Soon 
I could see only the towers; finally they, too, 
faded from sight, and I was out on the great 
ocean. 

Behind me and before me, to my right and 
to my left,I could see nothing but water—water 
—water. Then I began to think of what I had 
done. I remembered my father’s tears and my 
mother’s kindness, and here I was out upon 
the ocean,sailing away from parents, home,and 
friends. 

In a short time a strong wind arose, and the 
ship rocked so fearfully from side to side that I 
became dizzy. The storm grew worse, and I 
thought that every wave would surely swallow 
up the ship. Every time it went down into the 
trough or hollow of the sea, I feared it would 


12 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


never come up again. [told my friend that I 
was very much afraid; but he only laughed at 
me and said, ‘‘Oh, you will get used to this after 
awhile.” 

I began to feel faint, so that I had to hold 
on to something to keep from falling down. 
The masts and ropes danced about and the sail- 
ors seemed to be walking on their heads.* F'i- 
nally,as I let go my hold,I fell full length upon 
the deck and could not rise. I was seasick. This 
sickness lasted for two days; then the sea be- 
came quiet and I began to get better. 

This storm was followed by a few days of 
pleasant weather, then suddenly the sky grew 
dark and there was much calling and shouting 
among the sailors. Another storm had arisen. 
I thought every minute that the ship would sink 
and made up my mind that if Iever reached land 
I would go back home and stay there. 

The storm lasted all day and all night. But 
next morning the waves were more quiet, the 
sky- became clear, and the ocean looked beauti- 
ful. I was used to the rocking of the vessel by 
this time, and began to enjoy the excitement. 


THE VOYAGE. 13 


We had been out several weeks when another 
heavy storm arose. This was very much worse 
than either of the others; all on board thought 
that we were lost. The wind and waves carried 
the ship before them, tossing it about like a 
nut-shell. 

Suddenly one of the sailors cried out, ‘‘Land!” 
All rushed out of the cabin to see where we 
were, but the waves broke over the deck with 
such fury that they were driven back into the 
cabin. | 

Then,all at once, we felt a fearful shock. The 
vessel had struck a rock. The sailors cried out, 
‘‘The ship has sprung a leak!” The water now 
poured into it. Every one called for help, and 
each thought only of saving his own life. 

A small boat was let down into the water, 
and all of the men jumped into it. When we 
were only a little way from the sinking vessel, 
a great wave, that looked like a mountain, came 
rolling toward our boat. It was overturned 
and all of the men went down. 

I knew how toswim very well, but the waves 
were so strong that I could do nothing. I came 


14 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


to the top but a wave carried me under again. 
Another wave brought me again to the top, and 
this time I could see land very near. Then a 
heavy sea hurled me against a rock, and I 
clung to this with all my strength. Another 
wave dashed over me, but I held on to the rock. 
Then Iran up the cliff, but only a little way, 
for I fell, and knew nothing more for a long 
_ time. 

When I opened my eyes again, my first ques- 
tion was, ‘‘Where am 1?” I looked about for the 
sailors, but alas! I did not see them, and I knew 
then that all must have been drowned. Iwas 
the only one whose life had been saved. 

When I saw this I knelt down on the rocks 
and thanked God for His mercy to me. 


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ROBINSON IN HIS NEW HOME. 


I began to wonder what I should do here by 
myself. I was very wet and had no change of 
clothes. I was hungry and thirsty and did not 
know where to look for food or drink. I was 
also afraid that wild animals might attack me, 
and I had no gun. 

It was getting dark and I knew that I must 
look for a place to sleep. Where should it be? 
For a long time I stood still, not knowing what 
to do. 


1G Se ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


At last I said, ‘‘I will do as the birds do, 
and rest in a tree.” I soon found one with 
thick branches in which I could settle myself 
quite comfortably and sleep without danger of 
falling. 

As I had nothing with which to defend my- 
self but a knife, I cut me a good stick. Then I 
climbed the tree, arranged myself carefully and 
fell asleep. Being very tired, I slept soundly 
till morning. 

When ITawoke it was broad day; the weather 
was clear and the sea quiet. I was weak from 
hunger and thirst and wondered what I could 
find for breakfast. I got down from my bed 
and walked around looking for food, but I found 
nothing but grass, and trees that bore no fruit. 

‘‘T shall die of hunger,” I thought. But 
when the need is greatest then God’s help is 
nearest. I had gone but a few steps when I 
saw a large plant witha thick stalk, and on it 
were three long ears. It was a stalk of corn. 

I broke off one ear and ate the kernels. The 
other ears I put into my pocket Ialso found 
a spring of clear, cool water. 


IN His NEw HOME. 17 


Not far away was a high hill, and I went up 
that I might look about me. It took me half 
an hour to climb it, but when I had reached the 
top I could see a long distance away. Ifound 
that there was water all around me. This dis- 
tressed me greatly. 

‘‘So I am upon an island,” I cried, ‘‘alone 
and without food or shelter. O, what will be- 
come of me!”’ 

AsI spoke my eyes fell upon the ship. It 
lay about a mile from the shore, and had not 
been broken to pieces by the storm, as I had 
supposed. It was still resting upon the rock. 
‘‘T must reach that ship,” I thought. ‘‘How 
can I do it?” 

The water was so shallow that I could wade 
to within a quarter of a mile of it, and 1 swam 
the remainder of the distance. By the help of 
a rope I climbed to the deck of the vessel. No 
sooner had I reached it than I was greeted by 
the joyful barking of the dog, which the sailors 
had named Barri. He jumped and sprang about 
me, rejoicing to see a friend once more. Il, too, 
was glad to have a living being with me again. 


18 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


I found many things on board the vessel 
which were not injured at all. First of all I 
hunted for food. I founda chest of ship bis- 
cuits, and gave some to Barri who was nearly 
starved, and I ate all I wished myself. 

I gathered the things together which I 
wished to take with me, and built a raft by 
fastening a number of logs together by ropes, 
and nailing some boards upon these. I put 
upon the raft the chest of biscuits, a flint for 
making a fire, a box of tools, a saber, four 
guns, two barrels of powder, shot, clothing, 
and many other things. ; 

With a broken oar I then rowed toward land. 
Suddenly I heard a splashing behind me, and 
turned about, much frightened. But it was only 
Barri, the faithful dog, who was swimming after 
me. I drew the poor fellow out of the water 
on to the raft. 

In a half-hour I had landed everything 
safely. It was now getting dark, and I once 
more looked for a tree in which to spend the 
night. 

The next morning my first thought was of 


In His NEw HOME. 19 


the ship. I made up my mind to bring over all 
of the things for which I might have any 
use. 

I went to the vessel on my raft and brought 
back two kegs of nails and spikes, a large 
auger, a grindstone, two barrels of bullets, a 
large bag of shot, seven muskets, a piece of 
sail, and some bedding. I wanted to put on 
other things, but the raft could hold no more. 
I brought all these safely to land. My next 
care was to get my goods under cover. For this 
purpose I went to work to build myself a tent. 
I cut a few poles, set them into the ground in 
the form of a circle, the tops touching, and 
fastened the sail over them. Into this tent I 
put everything I had brought from the ship. - 

The third time I went to the ship I found in 
a drawer a pair of scissors, a few knives, and 
a bag of gold. I was very glad to get the scis- 
sors and knives, but I had no use for the gold. 

As I was rowing to land a strong wind arose, 
and I had to hurry to reach the shore with my 
raft. I had barely reached it when the wind 
became so strong that the waves covered the 


20 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


ship. When the sea became quiet again nothing 
could be seen of it. I felt very thankful that I 
had been able to get so much, for I thought, 
‘‘How could I have lived without these 
things!” 


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ROBINSON 


wet ground and J 


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My tent stood on low 
wished to find a better spot for my home. 


I found a 


’ 


After looking around a long time 


level place on the side of a hill near the sea, 


which suited me very well. 


22 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


Back of this plain was a high, steep wall of 
rock, in which was an opening like the door of 
acave. Isaid to myself, ‘‘What a fine home I 
can make here !” 

I first brought up my tent and everything 
that was init. This was hard work. I set up 
the tent, and moved my things into it, then I 
built a double wall or fence in the shape of a 
semi-circle, extending from one side of the cave 
around to the other side, inclosing a beautiful 
green yard. 

The front of the fence was ten yards from 
the cave door, and its two ends were about 
twenty yards apart. This double fence was 
made by driving two rows of strong stakes into 
the ground until they stood very firm, the big- 
gest end being out of the ground and sharpened 
at the top. These two rows were only six 
inches apart. 

Between them [I laid one row after another 
of ship cable until it reached the top. Other 
stakes, two and a half feet high were driven in- 
side of the second row, leaning against them so 
as to brace them. Neither man nor animal 
could get through or over this fence. 


ROBINSON’S HOUSE. 23 


Instead of a gate I made me a ladder so that 
I might go over the top. When I was within, I 
lifted the ladder in afterme. The fencing in of 
my home had been a hard piece of work and 
had lasted more than three months. % 

Within this fence I built a cabin. My tent 
had allowed the rain to come through. I wished 
to make the roof of the cabin rain proof. , At 
the sides of the cave opening I set poles in 
the ground ten steps apart. Upon these [ laid 
across piece. Upon this cross piece were the 
rafters, their other end resting on the rocky 
cliff and forming a slanting roof, 

I covered this roof with long grass and with 
leaves. The sides were made of wood,and I filled 
the cracks with mud. A piece of sail formed 
the door. 

When I had done this I began to dig my way 
into the rock. I carried all the stones out 
through my cabin and laid them up within the 
fence. This raised the ground all around, about 
afoot anda half. The cave formed the cellar , 
to my house. 


24 ROBINSON CRUSOE 


HIS WORK. 


While I was at work in the cave a storm 
came up. It grew dark, and suddenly there 
was a flash of lightning, and after that a great 
clap of thunder. I thought, ‘‘Oh, my powder! If 
the lightning should reach that, what would I 
do? IfIlose my powder I cannot get food, and I 
shall have nothing with which to protect my- 
SeLr” 

After the storm was over I shook out some 
small grain bags which I had, and made some 
others and put the powder into about a hundred 
of these, hoping that if some of it should burn, 
I could keep a part at least. I hid these bags 
of powder in holes among the rocks. Here it 
could not get wet. 

While I was doing this I went out at least 
once a day with my gun. The first time I dis- 
covered that there were goats upon the island, 
and I was glad to see them. But they were 
very shy and would run so swiftly that it was 


His WORK. 25 


the most difficult thing in the world to catch 
them. 

One day I watched for them, thinking per- 
haps I could shoot one; but when they were 
upon the rocks and saw me in the valley they 
would run away, very much frightened. When 
they were feeding in the valley and saw me 
upon the rocks, however, they took no notice 
of me. From this I thought that they could 
not see readily objects that were above them. 
So I climbed the rocks, to get above them, and 
then fired at them. 

The first goat that I shot was an old one. 
She had a little kid by her side, which I did 
not see at first. It grieved me that I had killed 
the mother. I picked up the goat and carried 
it home over my shoulder, the little kid follow- 
ing me. I thought I could tame the kid, but it 
would not eat, so I had to kill it to keep it from 
starving to death. 

Many times I grew sad thinking of my home 
in England. Then I would remember how I had 
been saved and this would make me very thank- 
ful. 


SYA) 
26 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


I had been on the island about ten or twelve 
days, when the thought came to me that I 
should not be able to tell the day of the week 
or month after a while, for want of books and 
pen and ink, and should not know which was 
the Sabbath day. 

To prevent this, I set up a post, and on this 
I cut these words: ‘‘I came on shore here the 
380th of September, 1659.” Then for every day 
Icut a notch. Every seventh notch was longer 
than the others. 

One day, as I was looking over the things I 
had brought from the ship, I found pens, ink, 
and paper; also three good Bibles and several 
other books. I must not forget, also, that we 
had in the ship two cats, which I brought home 
with me. 

I was careful not to waste any ink, for I 
knew that I could not get any more when that 


was gone. 
One day I wrote the following upon paper: 


EVIL. GOOD. 


[I am cast upon a lonely But Iam alive. 
island; no hope of being 
saved. 


al His WORK. 27 


I am alone—one man all Butlam not starved. 
alone. 


I have no clothes. But it is warm here. 
I have nothing to fight But I am upon an island 
with. where lsee no wild beasts. 


I have no one tospeak to. But God sent the ship near 
enough to the shore for 
me to get many things, 
and I have Barri and the 

*» cats for company. 


This made me think that no matter how 
hard my life seemed, I could find something for 
which to be thankful. 

I needed many things in the house, so |] 
went to work and made some. First, I made a 
chair and a table out of short pieces of boards 
which I had brought from the ship. Then I 
made some shelves along one side of my cave. 
You may know that this was no light task, when 
I tell you that I had no tools but an ax and an 
adze. If Il wanted a board, I must chop down 
a tree, cut off from the trunk the length that I 
wanted, and hew it flat on either side with my 
ax until [ had made it as thinasa plank. Then 
I smoothed it with my adze. Inthis way I could 
make but one board out of a whole tree. But 
there was no help for it, and as I had plenty 


28 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


of time, it was just as well to spend it in this 
way. 

The boards which I used for shelves were a 
foot and a half wide, and were placed one under 
another all along one side of my cave. On 
these I laid my tools, nails, and other things. 
I drove spikes into the wall, on which to hang 
my gun. It was a great pleasure to me to see 
all my goods in such order, and to know that I 
had so many useful things. 

I went out for about two hours with my gun, 
every morning that it did not rain. Then I 
worked until eleven o’clock. After this I had 
my dinner. From twelve to twol slept, then 
I went to work again. 

One day when I was out hunting I killed a 
young goat and lamed another. I caught the 
lame one, led it home, and bound up its leg, 
which I found was broken. I took such good 
care of it that it soon became as:well as ever. 
It would eat near my door and it was so tame 
that it would not go away. 

I worked hard, but often the rains kept me 
inthe house. I had to goto bed early, for I 


His WORK. 29 | 


had no light. I wished for a lamp very often, 
and I studied how to make one. 

The best that I could do was to save the tal- 
low from a goat which [had killed. With a 
little dish made of clay,which I baked in the 
sun, and some oakum for the wick, I made a 
lamp. This gave mea light, but not a clear, 
steady light like a candle. 


30 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


SURPRISES. 


One day I saw before my door a few blaaes 
of something green coming up out of the ground. 
I thought it might be some plant I had not seen. 
I was very much surprised, afew weeks later, to 
see heads of wheat on the plants. 

When I saw this new gift, tears came to my 
eyes. Ithought of the prayer, ‘‘Give us this 
day our daily bread,” and I repeated it. 

I asked myself, ‘‘How came this wheat 
here?” Then I remembered that one day dur- 
ing a great rain I had shaken some dust out of 


SURPRISES. 31 


a bag which had once held wheat. There must 
have been a few grains in this. It was in April 
when I found the plants, and by June I had 
gathered every grain of wheat and saved it for 
seed. 

By the side of the rock, back of my house, a 
few rice plants were growing. I watched these 
and when the rice was ripe I gathered it for 
seed. 

I had been working very hard for three or 
four months trying to get my fence done. The 
very next day after it was finished, I came near 
having my work spoiled and myself killed. 

As I was busy behind my cabin, just at the 
opening of the cave, I was terribly frightened 
by a most surprising thing. ~The earth began 
to fall from the roof of my cave, and from the 
edge of the hill over my head. ‘Two posts 
which I had set up in the cave cracked. 

I was alarmed, for I thought that the roof 
was falling in, and fearing that I should be 
buried in it, 1 ran to my ladder. [I did not 
feel safe here, for the rocks from the hill might , 
roll down upon me; so I got over the fence, and 


ae . ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


as soon as I had stepped down upon the ground 
I knew that it was an earthquake. 

The ground on which I stood shook three 
times. The shocks were heavy enough to over 
turn the strongest building in the world. A 
great piece of the top of a rock, which was 
about half a mile from me, near the sea, fell 
down with a terrible noise such as [ had never 
heard in all my life. 

I was so frightened that I grew faint and 
sick. The falling of the rock aroused me, and 
then I could think of nothing but the hill falling 
upon my cabin. 

After the third shock was over, I felt no 
more, but I was still afraid to go over my fence, 
and Isat upon the ground, not knowing what 
to do. 

While here, the clouds gathered and _ it 
looked as if it might rain. Soon after, the wind 
began to blow, and in less than half an hour it 
blew a most dreadful hurricane. The sea was 
white with foam, and the shore was covered with 
water. Great trees were torn up by the roots. 
It was a terrible storm. 


SURPRISES. 33 


This lasted for three or four hours, then it 
began to rain. All this time I sat upon the 
eround, but when the rain began to fall I went 
into my cabin. But it rained so hard that I had 
to go into the cave, although I was still afraid 
that it would fall upon my head. 

It rained all night and a great part of the 
next day. I began to wonder what I would best 
do. ‘E thought that if there were earthquakes 
on the island, it would not do to live on the side 
of the hill beside the rocks. 

So I determined to build a cabin away from 
the hill, and then build a fence around it; but I 
was settled so comfortably here that I did not 
like to think of moving. 

My tools were all so dull that I could not do 
much chopping until they were sharpened. I 
had a grindstone but I could not turn it and 
grind my tools too. 

At last I fastened a crank to the axle; this 
crank I connected with a treadle by a string; 
I worked this treadle with my foot, that I might 
have both my hands to hold the tools. Then I 
spent two days sharpening them. 


34 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


One morning I found, by the seaside, a tor- 
toise, or turtle. This was the first I had seen, 
not because they were scarce, for there were 
many on the side of the island which I had not 
visited. I might have had hundreds of them 
every day, as I found afterward, but perhaps 
I should have paid dear enough for them. I 
cooked this one and found that it tasted bet- 
ter than any food I had eaten since I landed. 


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ROBINSON  SICK.., 


The day on which I found the turtle it began 
to rain. It rained all day and it was still rain- 
‘ing the next morning. | 
It was usually too warm, but this rain felt 
cold, and I was sick and chillyallday. At night 
I could not sleep for the fever and pain in my 
head. | 
I was no better in the morning, and I became 
greatly frightened and did not know what to 


36 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


do. I prayed to God, but I scarcely knew what 
I said. 

I was some better the fourth day, but worse 
on the fifth. The sixth day I was better again, 
but on the seventh I had another chill and a 
burning fever. , 

The next day I was better again, and hav- 
ing nothing to eat, I took my gun and went out 
hunting. I killed a goat, but I was so weak 
that I could hardly carry it home. 

The chill came again the next day and I had 
to le in bed. I was nearly dead with thirst, 
but I was too weak to get any water. I 
prayed to God, but all I could say was, ‘‘Lord, 
look upon me! Lord, pity me! Lord, have 
mercy upon me!” After awhile I fell asleep. 

When [ awoke it was far into the night and 
I was very thirsty, but as there was no water 
in my cabin, I had to do without until morning. 
I went to sleep again and had a strange dream. 

I thought that my good father stood be- 
fore me and called, ‘‘ Robinson, Robinson.” If 
stretched out my arms and said, ‘‘Here I am; 
here I am,’ and then I fell back upon the bed. 


ROBINSON SICK. 37 


When I awoke, my mouth burned and I 
feared I was going to die. Then I cried out, 
‘‘Lord, be my help, for I am in great need!” 
I soon fell asleep again, and when I awoke I 
felt betterf’ 

The first thing I did after getting up was to 
fill a bottle with water and place it near my 
bed. Then I broiled a piece of meat on the coals, 
but I could eat very little. I walked about, but 
was very weak, and I felt sad thinking that the 
next day the chill would return. 

At night I made my supper of three of the 
turtle’seggs, which I roastedintheashes. After 
I had eaten I tried to walk, but I was too weak 
to carry a gun; so | went but a little way and 
sat down upon the ground, looking out over the 
sea, which lay just before me, so beautiful and 
calm. 

As I sat here I thought of my father and 
mother. How kind they had always been to 
me! J thought how terrible it would be to die 
here all alone, and I prayed again to God to 
help me and bring me home again. 

Then I thought, ‘‘Why should God help me? 


38 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


Have I not disobeyed His commands? God 
wants us to obey our parents and love them, 
but I have not done so. I have run away from 
them and made them very unhappy.” 

I walked back slowly to my cabin, lighted 
my lamp, and sat down and wondered what I 
could do to cure me of my sickness. I went to 
one of the chests to see if I could not find some 
medicine. I did not find the medicine, but dur- 
ing my search I found a Bible. 

I brought it to the table and tried to read, 
but I was still dizzy and the letters danced be- 
fore my eyes; but I made out this verse: ‘‘Call 
upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver 
thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” 

These words comforted me. I began to grow 
sleepy, so, leaving my lamp burning, I went to 
bed. But before I lay down, I knelt and asked 
God to take care of me. 

Then I fell asleep and did not wake until 
almost three o’clock the next day, much re- 
freshed, and when I got up I felt stronger. 

From this time on I grew better each day, 
although it was several weeks before I fully re- 


«. 


ROBINSON SICK. 39 


covered. I kept thinking of that verse, ‘‘I will 
deliver thee.” I wondered how God would de- 
liver me. Then I thought, ‘‘Has He not done 
so? Iwas delivered from the wreck and from 
my sickness. And how have I glorified Him?” 

I fell on my knees and thanked God for 
all His kindness to me. 


Ht 


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ROBINSON EXPLORES THE ‘ISLAND, 


When I was well again, I started out to see 
more of my island home. At first I had been 
afraid of wild animals and men, but now I said, 
‘‘God has taken care of me so far and I believe 
He will keep me from harm all the time.” 


¢ 


iad 


EXPLORES THE ISLAND. 41 


One morning in July, I started out, going 
up the creek which flowed past my house. On 
both sides of it lay beautiful meadows covered 
with grass, and many plants were growing on 
its banks. I tried to find a kind of root out of 
which the Indians make their bread, but I found 
none. 

The next day I went up the same stream 
again, but I went farther. I found that beyond 
the meadows were thick woods. In this part I 
found melons and grapes that were sweet and 
ripe. 

When night came I was so far from home 
that I did not try to get back. I slept wellina 
tree, and the next morning I[ continued my jour- 
ney about four miles, through a valley with 
hills on each side. At the end of this valley 
I came to an opening, where there was a little 
spring of cold water, and everything looked 
fresh and green. | 

I Saw cocoa trees, orange, lemon, and citron 
trees. From these I gathered more fruit than 
I could carry home. I filled my pockets as full, 
as I could, and left a great heap of it lying on 


42 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


the ground, thinking I would come again. Be- 
fore | got home the grapes were spoiled. 

The next day I went back, having made 
two small bags in which to carry my fruit. I 
Was surprised upon coming to my heap of 
grapes, which were so rich and fine, to find 
them all scattered about, trodden to pieces, and 
many of them eaten. 

I knew that some animal must have done 


this, soafter that when I wanted to save grapes ~ 


I put them on the branches of the trees where 
‘they- would dry. In this way I could have a 
supply of raisins. This time I took home as 
many lemons as [ could carry. 

This place was so beautiful that I thought 
I would like to live here, and I looked around 
for a spot upon which to build my house. But 
after | had thought about it, 1 remembered that 
now my home was near the sea, where I hoped 
some day to see a ship. Or, if some one should 
be shipwrecked as I had been, I should be nea.’ 
to help him. 

I liked the woods so well, that I built a kind 
of bower where I could stay when I chose. I 


EXPLORES THE ISLAND. 43 


put up a strong fence of poles and brushwood, 
and used a ladder’as I did in my other home. 
I called this my country home. 

Just after I had finished my country house, 
the rainy season came on and I had to stay in 
my cabin. i 

On September thirtieth, I counted up the 
notches on my post, and found that I had been 
on shore three hundred and sixty-five days. I 
spent this day in religious worship. I knelt 
down and prayed God to forgive my sins. 
I fasted for twelve hours, then I ate a biscuit 
and a bunch of raisins and went to bed. 

During the rainy season I stayed in my cabin 
as much as I could, but I always found work to 
do. I needed. baskets very much, and I had 
tried several ways of making them. But all of 
the twigs that I could get were too brittle. , 

One day while at my country house, I found 
some willow twigs that seemed tough. I cut 
them and let them dry, and then carried them 
to my cabin. 

I made my baskets of these, in the rainy sea. 


44 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


son. This business was not new to me, for 
when I was a boy, I used to like to watch a 
basketmaker who lived in our town, and some- 
times he would let me help him 


ANOTHER TRIP. 45 


ANOTHER TRIP. 


In order to know still more about my island, 
I got ready fora longer trip. I took my gun 
and dog, a hatchet, and some biscuits and 
raisins. 

I went beyond my country house to a place 
where I could see the ocean on the other side 
of the island. Away off across the water I saw 
more land. I thought it must be some part of 
America, or perhaps another island. 

This side of the island seemed more pleas- 
ant than my side, for there were many beau- 
tiful flowers and trees here. In the woods near 
by, birds were singing their songs and flitting 
from tree totree. There were also agreat many 
parrots with their gay plumage. I caught a 
young one and carried it home, that I might 
teach it to talk. 

I also saw many small wild animals, but I 
shot none as I did not wish to waste my pow- 


46 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


der. On the seashore I was surprised to see the 
sand nearly covered with turtles. 

I put a stake into the ground for a land- 
mark, thinking that on the next journey which 
I took, I would go around the seacoast the 
other way until I came to my post. 

Iwas ready to go home now and I took a 
new way. I had not gone far when I found my- 
self in a large valley with hills all around 
covered with woods. My only guide was the 
sun, and the weather was hazy for three or four 
days, so that I lost my way. 

I wandered about fora long time and at last 
found my post and went home the same way 
that I had come. 

On the way home Barri caught a young goat 
and saved it alive, and I took it home to tame. 
I made a collar for the little thing out of some 
string which I aiways carried with me and led 
it to my country home and there [| left it. 

After being away from home a month, I was 
very anxious to get back, and I cannot tell 
what a pleasure it was to me to come into my 
cabin and lie down in my hammock again. 


4 


ANOTHER TRIP. 47 


I rested for a week after my journey, and 
while doing so I made a cage for Polly. Then 
I began to think of the little kid I had left 
penned up. I went out to it and found it nearly 
starved. After I fed it, it became so tame 
and gentle that it followed me like a dog, and 
it became a great pet. 


48 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


HIS GARDEN. 


I found now that there were two seasons 
upon the island, one rainy and the other dry. 
From the middle of February till the middle of 
April, it was rainy; from the middle of April to 
the middle of August, it was dry; from the mid- 
dle of August till the middle of October, rainy; 
from the middle of October till the middle of 
February, dry. 

One year I planted my seed on the first of 
May and it did not sprout. The next season I 
planted some early in August and the rain 
coming soon, it grew nicely. 

So [I found that there were two seed times 
and two harvests. I planted my garden and in 
October and November it looked well. I 
thought, ‘‘What a fine harvest I am going to 
have.” But one day I saw that some wild 
goats and hares were eating off the tender 
blades of the grain. 


HIS GARDEN. 49 


I knew of nothing that I could do to keep 
them away unless I builta close fence, so I went 
to work at this and at the end of three weeks it 
was done. 

But this fence could not save my grain, for 
one day when it was nearly ripe J saw a great 
many birds in my garden. I shot at them and 
a great flock arose; this made me feel badly for 
I knew that unless I could do something immedi- 
ately they would eat up all my grain and I 
might starve. 

I went into the garden and found that they 
had spoiled some already, and as I was com- 
ing away I saw the thieves sitting upon all the 
trees about me as if waiting until I should go 
away, 

Sure enough, as soon as | had gone a short 
distance, down they flew. I fired my gun at 
them and killed three. These I hung up to 
scare the others away, and they did not come 
back. } 

When the grain was ripe I hardly knew now 
to harvest it as I had neither scythe nor sickle. 
But I remembered a broad sword that I had 


50 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


brought from the ship and this did very well. 
I carried the grain home in the baskets which 
I had made, and rubbed it out with my hands. 

I had a large stock of rice and with my new 
harvest [hadmore. The third planting brought 
me over a bushel of wheat and as much rice. 
The fourth planting brought five bushels of 
wheat and still more. of rice. Next time I 
planted two bushels of each kind and gathered 
more than forty bushels of both. Then I had 
all of the grain that I needed. 

It might be truly said that now I worked for 
my bread. 

[ had no plow to turn up the earth; no spade 
nor shovel to dig with; so I spent many days 
making a wooden spade. I had no harrow, so 
I had to go over the ground dragging a great 
heavy bough of a tree to break the clods of 
earth and make the ground smooth. 

Now that I had wheat how could I grind it? 
And if I had it ground into flour, how could I 
make bread of it? Then how could I bake the 
bread if I had the flour? I spent many hours 
planning how all these things could be done. 


ae Say 
Se eZ “ a 


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ae 


an 


ROBINSON A COOK. 


The rainy season coming on again, I had to 
work inthe house. I taught my parrot to speak, 
and I was very glad when she could say, ‘‘Polly 
wants a cracker, cracker.” 

_L found that I needed some jars and plates 
very much, so [ studied how to make some. I 
looked around and founda certain kind of clay 
which I thought would do. 

It would make you pity me or laugh at me 
were L to tell you of the queer shaped things I’ 
formed; but at last I made some which I dried 


52 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


in the sun, and they held my rice and grain very 
well. 5 

But what I wished for most was something — 
in which to cook my food. Some time after 
I made my first jars I had a hot fire for cook- 
ing my meat, and when I went to put it out I 
found a broken piece of one of my jars in the 
fire. It was burned as hard as stone and as red 
as tile. I was surprised to see this, and I said 
to myself, ‘‘Why not burn whole jars and make 
them hard like this piece? ” 

So I went to work and made some more ket- 
tles and jars, and although they were not very 
smooth and round, yet they did very well. 

Next I placed the three largest vessels close 
together, with a good bed of live coals under 
them. I madea big fire all around them, but 
hardly had the flames begun to shoot up when 
I heard ‘‘crack! crack!” and one vessel fell to 
pieces. I said to myself, ‘‘I believe it is too 
hot.” So I put some of the fire out. As the 
others did not crack, I kept up the fire and after 
a while they turned a bright red. 

I thought this was all right, and I stayed up 


ROBINSON A COOK. 53 


the whole night to watch the burning of my 
pottery. ‘‘Now,” said I, ‘‘they are ready to 
use.” But I found that something was the mat- 
ter. They crumbled and fell to pieces. 

[did not know what to do now, but I dug a 
deep hole and laid stones about it. Then I made 
a small firein the hole and putin my jars. I kept 
making the fire a little hotter, and after a few 
hours they were all a glowing red. Then it 
seemed as though they would all melt, so I let 
the fire go down. 

I could hardly wait for them to cool before 
trying them. This time they were well baked, 
for they had been in the fire just long enough. 

I put some meat into one of them, with water 
and rice, and set it on the fire. It cooked well 
and tasted very good, better thanany I had had 
since I came to the island. Some salt, which I 
found near the sea on one of my trips, gave just 
the right flavor. 

I had worked so hard on my jars that I had 
forgotten to write the daysin my calendar. I 
found that the next day would be Sunday. I 
wished to spend it in the right way, for I 


; 


54 ROBINSON CRUSOE 


thought of what the Bible says: ‘Six days 
shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the 
seventh is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in 
it thou shalt not do any work.” 

When I had eaten my supper I went to sleep, 
and in the morning I wakened just as the sun 
was lighting up the hilltops. I jumped up 
quickly and offered my morning prayer. Thenl 
milked my goats and drank the milk for break- 
fast. 

After breakfast I went out into the morning 
air, where the birds were singing their beautiful 
songs and everything was glad. I took off my 
hat and sang too. I never before felt so thank- 
ful to God. Then I knelt down and prayed be- 
fore a palm tree as before an altar, pouring 
forth my thankfulness. 


ROBINSON A COOK. 55 


ROBINSON A COOK. 


I had been thinking for a long time how I 
could make flour out of my wheat. First of all 
I neededa mill. ‘‘If I had a mortar,” thought 
I, ‘‘I could crush the grain in that.” 

I hunted many days for a large hollow stone 
for a mortar, but I could not find one; and I 
had no tools to cut one out of the solid rock. 
Besides, rocks were sandy, and they would 
not do. At last I gave up looking for a stone 
and began to hunt for a block of hard wood. 
After | had found one large enough, I rounded it 
off with my hatchet, and then with much hard 
work and the help of fire, I madea hollow place 
aie: 

After this I made a heavy pestle of iron- 
wood. 

The next thing was to make a sieve,and this 
was a hard thing to do. I had no cloth which I 
could use for it; I had goat’s hair, but I did not, 
know how to weave it. | 


56 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


After a long time I found some coarse mus- 
lin in one of the chests, and with some of this 
I made three sieves which did the work very 
well. 

The baking was the next thing to plan for, 
and as I had no oven, I made some dishes that 
were broad and not deep. These I burned in 
the fire as I had done the others. 

When I wanted to bake, I made a great fire 
upon the hearth. After the fire had burned 
into live coals I drew them forward upon the 
hearth so as to cover it all over. 

When the hearth was very hot I swept away 
the coals and placed a loaf there. Then I 
covered it with one of my dishes, and drew the 
coals all around the outside of the dish, to 
keep in the heat and make more. In this way I 
baked my bread, and after a time I made pud- 
dings. : 

It took me nearly a year to make all of these 
things. I could not work at it all of the time 
for I had my garden to take care of and other 
work to do. 


ZA | Ce 


atm 
, 


ROBINSON MAKES A BOAT. 


While I was at work I often thought about 
the land which I had seen across the water,and 
I could not help but wish to go there. I thought 
that perhaps people lived there, and if I could . 
reach it I might at last get home. 

Many times I wished for a boat so that T, 

_might sail over to that countrv. 


58 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


I began to think then that perhaps I might 
make a canoe out of the trunk of a tree. This 
seemed quite easy to do. 

So I went to work, first cutting down a fine 
cedar tree. It was five feet ten inches in di- 
ameter at the stump, and four feet eleven 
inches at the distance of twenty-two feet far- 
ther up. 

I was over two weeks cutting this tree down 
and as long trimming off the branches. Then I 
spent a month in shaping it, and three times 
as long in digging out the inside. 

When I had the work done, I was very much 
pleased with it. It would carry twenty-six 
men, and was large enough to hold me and 
everything I had. ° 

The boat was about one-half hour’s walk 
from the ocean, and there was a small hill to 
go over. I began to dig through this hill to 
make a sort of trench; but when this was done 
I could not stir the boat. 

Then I thought that I would cut a canal to 
bring the water to the canoe, since I could not 
bring the canoe to the water. Well, I began 


MAKES A BOAT. oan 


this work, but when I thought how deep it must 
be and how broad, I knew it would take me at 
least ten years to finish it. 

Thus I had to give up this boat. I felt very 
sorry about it, for | had worked hard to make 
it. But I learned too late how foolish it is to 
begin a work before counting all the cost. 


60 ROBINSON CRUSOE. — 


ROBINSON A TAILOR. 


I had now been on the island so long that 
many things which I had brought from the ship 
were nearly used up. My ink had been gone 
for some time. I put in some water and made 
it last as long as I could, but it was so pale 
that the words on the paper were scarcely vis- 
ible. 

My clothes, too, were old and ragged, for I 
had worn them in the rain and in doing a 
ereat deal of hard work. I had brought some 
clothing from the ship, but I had worn that out. 

Now I must look out for some new clothes. 
I had plenty of money, but what good could 
that do me here? If I had been at home I could 
have bought many fine clothes with it, but it 
was of no use to me now. 

For a long time I did not know from what 
to make my clothes. Then I remembered that 
I had saved all of the skins of the goats I 
had killed, and dried them in the sun. These 


ROBINSON A TAILOR. 61 


might do for cloth, but how could I make them? 

First, I took.my measure for a jacket. I 
found that I would need three skins—one for 
the back, one for the front, and one for the 
sleeves. 

Next, [ cut them into four-cornered pieces. 
It took a long time to sew them together, and I 
made but poor work of it. If I was a bad car- 
penter, | was a worse tailor. 

The sleeves made me the most trouble be- 
cause they had to be sewed in at the shoulders 
to the other parts. It took me nearly two days 
to make the jacket, but when it was finished it 
was just the thing. I put the hair on the out- 
side to turn the rain, and it kept off the heat, 
also. 

I made some leggings, and then a cap—all 
out of skins. The cap looked like a large cone 
and it was somewhat longer behind than in 
front, so as to keep the rain and the heat from 
my neck. Iwas very proud of my suit when it 
was finished. 

After this, I spent much time in making an 
umbrella from skins. I spoiled two or three be- 


62 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


fore I made one that suited me. I wanted it so 
that I could shut it up, for I could not always 
carry itopen. At last I made one, and now I 
could go out in the hottest weather, for it kept 
off the heat. 


; -_ 
QQ #4, 


EN 


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HE MAKES A SMALLER CANOE. 


For five years after this, nothing unusual 


but I lived on in the same’ 


’ 


happened to me 


I had my regular work of tak- 


way as before. 


64 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


ing care of my garden, curing my raisins, and 
hunting. 

Besides this, I was working upon another 
canoe. As for the first one, it lay just where I 
had made it, as a reminder to me to be wiser 
hereafter. 

The second boat was about half a mile from 
the water, for I could find no tree nearer that 
would do. It was smaller than the first, and 
by digging a canal to it, six feet wide and four 
feet deep, I brought it to the creek. 

This little boat would not serve for such a 
trip as I had planned with the other one, but 
it would do to sail around my island in. 

I fitted up a mast in it and made a sail out 
of some of the pieces of the ship’s sails that I 
still had. Then I made a trial trip and found 
that it would sail very well. 

I made little boxes at each end in which to 
put powder and other things which were to be 
kept dry. Then I cut a long hollow place in 
the side of it where I could lay my gun, making 
a flap to hang down over it to keep it dry. 

To keep the heat of the sun off, I fixed my 


HE MAKES A SMALLER CANOE. 65 


umbrella in astep at the stern. Once in a 
while I took a little trip down the creek and 
out on the ocean, but I did not go far. 

At last I got ready for a trip around the 
island. I put in some bread, rice, powder, and 
shot, and two large watch-coats which I had 
saved from the ship, one to lie upon and the 
other to cover me at night. 

It was in November, in the sixth year of my 
stay, that I started out on this trip; and it 
proved to be a longer one than I had expected. 

It was not that the island was so large, but 
when I came to the east side I found a ledge of 
rocks reaching far out into the ocean,and beyond 
this was a strip of sand. To get around this I 
had to go out a long way into the sea. 

When I first saw these rocks, I thought I 
would go back home. I anchored my boat, and 
taking my gun I climbeda hill. After looking 
about from its top, I made up my mind to try 
to go on in my boat. 

The sea being a little rough, I staid on 
shore for two days. Buton the third day the 
the sea was calm again and I started out. 


66 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


When I reached the point, suddenly the boat 
began to go faster, and to my dismay I saw 
that a strong current was carrying me out to 
sea. I could do nothing with my paddle, and 
there was no wind. I feared that unless some 
help came soon I should be lost. 

Now that I was being carried away from my 
island home out into the ocean it seemed to me 
the most pleasant home in the world. I 
stretched out my hands to it, wishing I were 
there once more. Then I thought, ‘‘I was not 
happy while I was there, but we never know 
how to enjoy what we have, until it is lost to 
us.” 

As [have said, there was no wind to help me, 
but I worked hard, and after a while I felt a 
little breeze. Then it blew quite a gale and I 
thought that now I might save myself. 

By this time I was a long way from the 
island and if it had not been clear I should 
certainly have been lost, for I should not have 
known which way to go. 

I soon found that the current had changed 
and by hard work and the help of the wind I 


HE MAKES A SMALLER CANOE. 67 


sailed out of it. Upon nearing the shore I found 
that it was the opposite side of the island from 
where I had started. 

As soon as I reached the land again, I fell 
upon my knees and gave thanks to God for sav- 
ing me. Ibrought my boat close to the shore, 
into a little cove, and after eating some food, I 
went to sleep, for I was very tired. 

In the morning I[ hardly knew how to return 
home. I did not care to try going by water 
after being so nearly lost the day before. 

lL looked along the shore and several miles 
further I found a small creek flowing into the 
ocean, and into it I brought my boat. I drew 
it up on the shore, where it would be safe, and 
ketneit: 

Taking my umbrella and gun, I started on 
foot for home. Not far away was my old land- 
mark and before evening I reached my country 
_ house. Here everything was just as I had left 
it. I got over the fence and lay down in the 
shade to rest and soon fell asleep. 

You may imagine my surprise upon being 
awakened by some one calling my name. The 


68 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


voice said, ‘‘Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe! 
Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where have 
you been ? Poor Robin Crusoe!’ 

I was sleeping so soundly that it seemed 
like a dream. JBut the voice kept on saying 
‘*Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe! Poor Robin 
Crusoe!” At last I awoke, greatly fright- 
ened. 

I looked around and there on the fence sat 
Polly blinking her eyes and chattering away. 
Holding out my hand I said, ‘‘Come here, Polly, 
pretty Polly!’ She flew down to me and sit- 
ting on my shoulder laid her head against my 
face and kept saying, ‘‘Robin, Robin Crusoe ! 
Where have you been? Poor Robin Crusoe!”— 
just as if she were very happy to see me again. 

Thad enough of sailing now for a time, but 
I often wished that the boat were on my side of 
the island. 


ROBINSON’S FLOCKS. 69 


ROBINSON'S FLOCKS. 


At the end of eleven years on the island I 
found that my ammunition was beginning to 
run low. I therefore planned to catch some 
goats, tame them, and have my own flocks. By 
doing this I should save both time and ammu- 
nition. I already had one tame goat. I won- 
dered what I could do to catch more. 

At first I made traps of rope, and baited 
them, and I am sure I caught some goats in 
these, but the ropes were rotten and would not 
hold; so I dug some pits three or four feet deep 
and covered them with small branches of trees, 
The next morning I found that I had caught 
three young kids. I tied them together and 
managed with much trouble to get them home. 
When I[ got them there I had no good place to 
keep them, so I set about finding a pasture, one 
where there would be plenty of grass, water, 
and shade. 


70 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


I soon found a place that suited’ me well, 
and began to enclose a very large pasture, 
which would require two miles of fence. I 
changed my mind, however, after thinking more 
about it, not because I had not time to make so 
long a fence, for I had time enough to make it 
five times as long had I cared for such an one, 
but with such a large pasture,how could I tame 
my goats? They would be nearly as free as 
they were in the woods, and I could never catch 
one where there was so much space in which to 
chase it. 

I therefore decided to fence in about a quar- 
ter of anacre. When I should need more pas- 
ture, I could enclose more land. While I was 
making the fence I kept my goats tied near me 
that they might become used to me, and very 
often I would carry them a handful of wheat or 
of rice, which they learned to eat out of my 
hand. It took about three months to make my 
fence. By the time it was done the goats 
would follow me up and down the pasture 
calling for grain. 

After three years I had forty-three goats, 
and, besides, I had killed several for food. 


ROBINSON’S FLOCKS. 71 


At different times I fenced in more pasture, 
until I had five pieces of ground fenced, with 
little pens opening out of each, and gates lead- 
ing from one pasture into another. 

I had not only plenty of meat, but I had 
plenty of milk as well—sometimes a gallon or 
two a day—and after many failures I learned 
to make very good butter and cheese. 


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ROBINSON’S MANNER OF LIVING. 


It would have made you smile to see me and 
my little family sit downtodinner. There was 
our majesty, the lord of the whole island. My 
subjects were under my complete control, and 
there were no rebels among them. 

How like a king I sat at my table all alone, 
attended by my servants. Poll was the only 
person allowed to talk to me. My dog, who 
was now very old and crazy, sat always at my 


MANNER OF LIVING. 73 


right hand, and the cats at my left. I needed 
nothing to add to my happiness but society. 
My dress was very odd. Any one in Eng- 
land would have been frightened at meeting 
such a man, or else he would have laughed 
at him. There was my great, high, shapeless 
cap, made of goat skin, with a flap hanging 
down behind to keep the sun and rain off of my 
neck; my short coat of goat’s skin, the skirts 
coming down to about the middle of my thighs; 
and a pair of open-kneed breeches of the same 
material. The breeches were made of the skin of 
an old goat whose hair hung down so long that 
_ it reached to the middle of my legs. I wore a 
pair of leggings laced up on the outer side. . 
Around my waist I wore a broad belt of 
goat’s skin, which was laced together by leather 
strings. From one side of it hung my hatchet, 
from the other, my saw. Over my shoulder I 
wore another belt, not so broad as the first,and 
from this,under my left arm,hung two pouches, 
both made of goat’s skin, in one of which I 
carried my powder, and in the other, my shot. 
On my back I carried my basket,on my shoulder 


74 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


my gun, and over my head my great, clumsy, 
ugly umbrella, which, after all, was the most 
necessary thing I had, next to my gun. 

Near my home, but upon lower ground, were 
my two corn fields which I ploughed and sowed 
every year, and which yielded me good har- 
vests. My vineyard Lalso cared for, and the 
raisins that I made were not only pleasant 
to eat, but were healthful, as well. 


ALARM. 


One day, about noon, I was walking along 
the shore toward my boat, when, looking down, 
I saw in the sand the print of a man’s naked 
foot. Iwas very much frightened at this. I 
made use of all my eyes and ears but I could 
neither see nor hear anyone, so I went to the top 
of a hill that I might look off some distance;, 
but there was no one in sight. I went again 


76 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


to the shore and walked to and fro, searching 
in the sand, but there was no other footprint 
to be seen and I could not imagine how this one 
came to be there. 

It was growing late, and I started for home, 
looking behind me at every three or four steps, 
and thinking every stump I saw ata distance 
was a man. 

When I came to my cave, which I now named 
my castle, I ran into it as if I were chased by 
wolves. 

I could not sleep that night. I thought and 
thought about that footprint, and made up my 
mind that some savages from the mainland had 
come Over in canoes, but had gone away to sea 
again, being as unwilling to stay on the island 
as I was to have them. 

I felt very grateful that I was not near when 
they landed, and that they had not seen my 
boat; for if they had seen it, very likely they 
would have hunted the island over for its owner. 

One morning when I was worrying over this 
discovery, these words from the Bible came 
again to my mind, ‘‘Call upon me in the day of 
trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glo- 


ALARM. i 


rify me.” I prayed to God to deliver me from 
my enemies, then rose from my bed greatly 
comforted. 

For three days and nights I had not stirred 
from my castle, so that I was in much need of 
focd; for [had nothing in the house but some 
wheat cakes and water. My goats, too, needed 
to be milked, and I started at last for my coun- 
try house to milkthem. After I had gone down 
there and back for two or three days and had 
seen no one, I began to feel less alarm. 


78 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


ROBINSON PREPARES FOR TROUBLE. 


My business for the present was to make my- 

self safe against anenemy. The first thing that 

I planned to do was to make another tight fence 

around my castle outside of the first fence. 

» About twelve years before this, I had planted 

a double row of trees here, where I wished to 

make a second fortification. These trees stood 

close together, so I had to drive in but a few 

- posts to make a thicker and stronger fence than 
the first one. 

In this outer fence or wali I made seven 
little holes about as big around as my arm. 
Through these seven holes I put seven mus- 
kets, which I fitted into frames which held them 
in place, so that they looked much like small 
cannons. I could fire all of these seven guns in 
two minutes’ time. The inner wall I thickened 
until it was ten feet through. This I did by 
taking dirt from my cave. 


PREPARES FOR TROUBLE. 719 


Outside of the outér wall, and some distance 
from it, I stuck all the ground for a great way 
out, with twigs of willow, which grow quickly, 
and in five or six years’ time | had a wood 
about my home, so very thick and strong that 
no one would think of a house being within, 
and if anyone had tried to get through, he could 
not have done so. 

For myself, I planned to go in and out by 
two ladders—one to lead from the outside of 
my outer wall toa shelf of rock, and the other 
to lead from this shelf of rock to the top of the 
hill. When the two ladders were down, no man 
living could come down to me without getting 
hurt; and even if one could get down, he would 
still be outside the outer wall. 

The next question to answer was, ‘‘How 
shall I keep my goats out of the way of ene- 
mies?” This is the plan that Imade: I would 
fence in three or four small pastures far away 
from one another, and well hidden by trees; 
then I would divide my flock, so that if one 
pasture were found by them, the others might — 
be safe. 


80 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


So I went’out in search of good pasture 
land, and found a little damp piece in the mid- 
dle of a hollow, with woods all around it. 
These woods were so thick that I nearly got 
lost myself. There were about three acres in 
this piece. I worked about a month fencing it 
in, then I brought twelve goats to it. These, I 
thought, were quite secure. Later on, I fenced 
in two more pastures and put tame goats into 
them. 

For two years after my fright, I was very 
careful not to fire my gun, though I never went 
without one, and I carried two pistols in my 
goat-skin belt. 

I moved my boat to the east end of the island 
where I ran it into a little sheltered place. I 
thought that no one would be likely to find it 
here. 


« 


I seldom went away from home except to 
milk and care for my goats. I did not dare 
drive a nail or chop a stick of wood, for fear 
the noise would be heard by someone. I felt 
afraid, too, every time I made a fire, that the 
smoke would tell where I was hiding. So J 


PREPARES FOR TROUBLE. a 


made some charcoal by burning wood under 
turf till it became dry coal. This dry coal or 
charcoal would burn without making any 
smoke. 


82 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


A DISCOVERY. 


I was cutting off some branches of trees 
one day to make charcoal, when I saw, back of 
the trees, an open place. I looked into it and 
found that it was a cave, so high that I could 
stand up in it. But I came out much faster than 
I had gone in, for as I looked into the cave, 
which was perfectly dark, I saw two large, 
shining eyes, twinkling like two stars. 

I did not dare to leave the place without 
finding out to what those eyes belonged, so I 
took up a stick of burning wood and rushed 
into the cave with it in my hand. I had 
not gone more than three steps when I was 
frightened as badly as at first; for I heard a 
very loud sigh, as if some man were in pain. 
After this there was a mumbling sound as of 
wevds half spoken, then another deep sigh. 

I stepped back and broke out into a cold 
sweat; but soon I went on again into the cave, 


NEw DISCOVERY. 83 


and by the light of a stick held a little above 
my head, I sawa great goat lying on the ground 
gasping for breath, and dying of old age. I 
stirred him a little to see if I could get him out, 
but he could not stand up, and I comforted my- 
self thinking that no savage would go into that 
cave while the goat lived, at any rate. 

This cave was not very large, but at the 
further end, to the right, was a small passage, 
so low that one must creep on his hands and 
knees to get through it. Having no candle, I 
could not go into that part of the cave, but I 
planned to come next day and bring lights with 
me. 

So on the following day I came with my can- 
dles, made of goat’s tallow, and passed through 
the low opening. I crept along on my hands 
and knees about ten yards; at the end of this 
long, low hall the roof suddenly rose to the 
height of twenty feet. 

This was a most beautiful room. The walls 
and ceilings reflected a thousand lights from 
my two candles. The floor was dry and level 
and had loose gravel upon it, and there was no 


84 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


dampness about the roof or sides of the cave. 1 
thought, ‘‘Surely, here is a place of safety, and 
I will bring to it some of the things I am most 
anxious to save—my powder and five guns, at 
least. 

The old goat died that night, and I took full 
possession of the cave. 


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About a year and a half had passed after my 
discovery of the footprint, when, one morning, 
I was surprised by seeing five canoes drawn up 
on shore on my side of the island. The people 
were all landed. I knew that these canoes car- 
ried from four to six men, and I was at a loss 
to know how to resist so many alone, so i lay 
still in my castle for a long time. 


&b ROBINSON -CRUSOE. 


As I could hear no noise, I at length set my 
guns against the foot of the ladder and climbed 
to the top of the hill. I could not be seen here 
but I could see the men through my glass. 
There were not less than thirty of them. 

They had kindled a fire and seemed to be 
cooking their dinner and dancing around it. | 
then saw two miserable beings dragged out 
from the boats, to be killed. One of these men 
they knocked down, while the other was left 
standing alone until they should be ready for 
him. 

This savage seeing a little chance for life, 
darted away from his captors. He ran very 
fast right toward my home. I was dreadfully 
frightened when I saw this, for I thought ali 
the savages were after him. I soon saw, how- 
ever, that only three of the men were following 
the runaway and he was gaining ground on 
these, so that if he could hold out at that rate 
he would be beyond their reach in half an hour. 

On coming to the creek he jumped in and 
swam over. Two of the savages swam after 
him, but the third one gave up the chase and 
went back to the shore. 


RETURN OF THE SAVAGES. 87 


I thought, ‘‘Now is my chance to get me a 
servant, if Ican save this poor fellow’s life;” 
so | ran down the ladder, fetched my two guns 
and rushed out so as to stand between him and 
the two savages who were following him. 

I called to the runaway, who was at first as 
much frightened at me as at his two enemies. 
Then I motioned for him to come back and at. 
the same time I went toward the two savages, 
rushing at the head one and knocking him down 
with my gun. I feared to fire lest those on the 
shore should hear. 

The second savage stopped when the first 
one was knocked down, but I saw that he was 
fitting an arrow into his bow, so I shot at him 
and killed him. ) 

The poor savage who saw both of his ene- 
mies fall was so frightened by the noise of my 
gun that he seemed about to run away. I called 
to him again and beckoned to him to come 
nearer, and he came a little way. Bya great 
deal of coaxing I got him to come to meat last. 
He threw himself at my feet, and placed my — 
foot on his head to show me that he would be 


88 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


my servant forever. I raised him up and 
treated him kindly. 

But there was more work to be done. The 
savage who was knocked down was only stun- 
ned, and he was sitting up. This frightened 
the runaway very much. Iraised my gun as if 
I would fire at the savage. At this the run- © 
away made a motion for me to let him take my 
sword, which hung naked in my belt, at my 
side. 

As soon as he had the sword he ran at his 
enemy and cut off his head at one blow. ‘Then 
he took the head and ran to me and laid it 
and the sword at my feet, laughing as he 
did so. I-signed to him to follow me, for fear 
others should search for him. » 


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GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH THE NEW 
SERVANT. 


My savage made signs that he would bury 
his two enemies, and [ made signs to him to 
do so. 

This being done, I took him to my cave and 
gave him some bread, a bunch of raisins, anda 


90 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


cup of water, then told him, by motions, to lie 
down and sleep on some rice straw and a 
blanket which I placed there for him. 

While he was sleeping I had a chance to 
study him more closely. He was a fine looking 
fellow, tall and straight. He had a manly, 
pleasant face, plump and round. His hair was 
long and black, his forehead high and broad, and 
he had bright, sparkling, black eyes. His skin 
was quite dark, though not black. I think he 
was about twenty-five years old. 

When he awoke he looked for me. I was out 
milking my goats. As soon as he saw me he 
ran to me, threw himself flat on the ground, 
and, taking one of my feet, placed it on his 
head as before, to show how he would serve me. 

I let him know that his name was to be Fri- 
day, which was the day on which his life was 
saved, and I taught him that he was to call me 
master. 

Taking a cup of milk, I drank some of it 
and moistened my bread in some. I gave Fri- 
day acup of milk; he did the same thing with his 
bread, showing by signs.that he thought it very 
cood. 


GETTING ACQUAINTED. " 9] 


After supper, I started with Friday to the 
shore. He carried my sword and one gun, and 
I carried two others. 

When we came tothe place where the dread- 
ful feast had been made, I grew faint at the 
sight. It was covered with the remains of the 
bodies of the poor savages. I told Friday to 
gather these up and burn them. 

He would have eaten some of the flesh, but 
I showed such anger at this that he did not of- 
fer again to take any. 

When we went back to the cave I gave Fri- 
day a pair of goat-skin trousers, a goat-skin 
coat, anda cap made of hare’s skin. He was 
very proud of his clothes, though he hardly 
knew how to get around at first, when dressed 
in them, for he had never worn clothes. 

Now I wondered where I should make a bed 
for Friday. I wanted to do well by him, and yet 
I wished to feel safe myself, so I madea tent for 
him in the space between the two fences. 

This tent opened by a door into my yar. 
The door was made to lock from the inside, 
and I locked it and took in my ladder every 


92 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


night, so that Friday could not reach me. Had 
I known what a true friend he was to me, I 
should not have wanted to lock him out. 

I learned from Friday, later, that he came 
from the mainland, and that there were several 
tribes of Indians there who were constantly at 
war with one another. The army that won the 
battle would feast on the prisoners which they 
had taken. Some of these feasts were kept on 
my island. 


ROBINSON A TEACHER. 93 


ROBINSON A TEACHER. 


Friday, after a while, knew English so well 
that I could talk to him about anything that I 
wished. 

I taught him that there is one God who 

made everything, and that He loves menas a 
father loves his children, and that He cares for 
them even more tenderly than does a father. 
When Christmas time came I taught him about 
Jesus. 
I told him how I happened to be on the 
island, and how long I had been there, and 
what a hard time I had had at first to get food 
and make a home, and how lonely I had been 
until he came. 

I taught him to shoot a gun. At first, 
every time that he heard it he was so fright- 
ened that he trembled, but he soon got over 
that. 


y4 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


Talso taught Friday how to plant and har- 
vest the wheat and rice, and how to make 
baskets and dishes. He milked the goats every 
morning and evening, and made butter and 
cheese: 

One day it had been very warm, and toward 
evening the sky was covered with dark clouds. 
It began to thunder and lightning, and Friday 
cowered away into a dark corner of the house. 
I could not think why it was that he was so 
frightened and trembled so all over; so I said, 
“Hriday, what is the matter?” There was no 
answer. 

“Well, well,” thought I, ‘‘is Friday afraid 
of thunderand lightning as so many people are?” 
That was the case, for when it thundered louder 
he trembled still more. 

‘“‘Listen to <mé,=r'riday,” * Ls said. 6 vier 
thunders again do not be afraid, for God is not 
angry. He is a kind and loving Father. He 
can do anything that He wishes but He does 
nothing that is not good for His children.”’ 


PREPARES FOR A JOURNEY. 95 


ROBINSON PREPARES FOR A JOURNEY, 


One day when Friday and I were walking 
by the shore [I said to him, ‘‘Do you not wish 
you were in your own country?” 

“Yes,” said Friday, ‘‘I be much O glad to 
be at my own country.” 

_ ‘What would you do there? Would you be 
a man-eater such as you used to be?” 

Friday shook his head and said, ‘‘No, no; 
Friday tell them to live good and pray to God; 
tell them to eat corn, bread, and cattle-flesh 
and drink milk; no eat man again.” 

“But, Friday, they will kill you.” 

“Oh, no,” said Friday, ‘‘they no kill me, 
they will love learn.” 

‘“"Mhen will you go, Friday?” I asked. 

Friday shook his head and said, ‘‘How go? 
Friday no swim so far.” 

‘‘T will make you a canoe, Friday, if you 
want to go home,” said I. 


96 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


“Then Friday go, if you go,” said Friday. 

‘But they will eat me, Friday.” 

‘‘Oh, no, master, me make them no eat you. 
Me make them much love you.” Then he told 
me how kind they had been to seventeen white 
men who were thrown on shore by a terrible 
storm. 

When I heard this I began to think strongly 
of going with Friday, hoping that by joining 
with the seventeen white men there, we might 
find some way to cross the ocean and get 
home. 

I took Friday to see the boats that I had 
made. He thought that the first one was too 
small. He liked the size of the larger boat, but 
it was cracked and rotten. He said that we 
could sail over to his country in one of that 
size. . 

So now a _uew boat must be made, and this 
time I wished to chocse a tree near the shore, 
that we might launch the boat without trouble. 

At last Friday found a good tree, for he 
knew much more about the trees on the island 
than Idid. He was going to burn out the in- 


PREPARES FOR A JOURNEY. Y7 


side of it, but I showed him how to cut it out 
with tools. This he did very handily. 

In about a month the boat was done, and a 
fine vessel it was. I asked Friday if it would 
do. He said, ‘‘ Yes, we go over in her very 
well, though great blow wind.” 

But I did not intend to start out in the boat 
as it was. [found a good cedar tree and had 
Friday cut it down and shape it as I directed. 
This was my mast. 

But what should I do for a sail? There were 
many pieces of old sails which I had had 
twenty-six years, but they were mostly rotten. 
I looked them over carefully and found two 
large pieces which were quite good; these I 
sewed together. It took about two months to 
get the mast and sail ready. 

My next piece of work was the making of a 
rudder, which I fastened to the stern of the 
vessel. 

When the boat was all ready I taught Fri- 
day how to use the rudder, and he became a 
g¢ood sailor. 

But we had to wait for good weather, for it 


98 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


was now fall. I had been on the island twenty- 
six years. I kept this anniversary witha grate- 
ful heart. The last three years had been much 
the happiest of my life here, for Friday had 
been a faithful and true friend to me. 

I had brought the boat up the creek to keep 
it from the storms and Friday had covered it 
so thickly with the boughs of trees that the 
rain could scarcely get through at all. Then 
we waited for November and December, at 
which time we intended to start on our voyage. 


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NEW TROUBLE. 


The rainy season was now over and Friday 
and I began to get ready for our journey. 

One morning I sent Friday to the shore for 
a turtle. He had not been gone long when he 
came rushing back, out of breath, crying, ‘‘Oh, 
master ! Oh, master! Oh, sorrow!: Oh, death "’ 

‘‘What is the matter, Friday ?” I asked. 


100 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


‘‘Oh, master, yonder there, one, two, three 
canoes—one, two, three; carry Friday off, cut 
Friday in pieces and eat him,” cried he, tremb- 
ling from head to foot. 

‘‘Do not be afraid, Friday,” said I. ‘‘We 
will go out and fight them. They shall not 
carry you off, if you will help me fight. Now 
will you do all that I tell you to do ?” 

‘‘Me shoot,” cried Friday, ‘‘ but there come 
many number.” 

‘‘Never mind that, Friday, just do as I tell 
you.” 

Seeing me so cool, Friday became more 
quiet himself. 

We loaded two pistols and four guns with 
bullets, then I hung my great sword by my side 
and gave EH'riday a hatchet. 

When we were ready,I took my spy-glass and 
went up the hill, to see what had become of the 
boats. There I saw twenty-one savages and 
two prisoners in three canoes. They were 
coming, as before, to make a feast. 

I went down and told Friday that I wanted 
to kill all of the savages, and asked him if he 
were going to help me. 


NEW TROUBLE. 101 


He said, ‘‘ Friday die, if master say die.” 

I gave Friday one pistol to hang in his belt 
and three guns to carry upon his shoulder, and 
a large pouch full of powder and bullets. I 
took one pistol and the other gun and told F'ri- 
day to keep close behind me. 

We went through the woods so that the sav- 
ages should not see us until we came near 
enough to them to shoot. 

When we came near to the place where the 
savages had landed I said to Friday, ‘Go to 
that great tree there and see if youcan find out 
what they are doing 

Friday obeyed at once and came back bring- 
ing word that the men could be seen plainly. 
He said they were all about the fire eating the 
flesh of one of the prisoners and another was 
lying bound upon the sand near them; they 
would kill him next. He was a white man with 
a beard. 

When I heard this we moved toward the sav- 
ages, but kept out of their sight. We were 
still about fifty yards from them and there was 
no time to lose. Nineteen savages sat on the 


102 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


ground huddled close together while two of 
them were stooping down to untie the bands of 
the white man. - 

‘‘Now, Friday, doas I tell you,” I said. ‘‘Do 
exactly as you see me do.” At this I took my 
gun and aimed at the savages. Friday did the 
same. ‘‘ Now fire,” said I, and we both fired 
together. Three savages were killed and sev- 
eral others were wounded. 

They all jumped up but they did not know 
which way to look or which way to run. I 
threw down my gun and grabbed another. Fri- 
day did the same. We both aimed at the sav- 
ages and shot at the same time. ‘T’wo more 
were killed and several more wounded. 

‘‘Now, Friday, follow me,” I said, throwing 
down my gun and picking up my pistol. Then 
I rushed out of the wood, Friday following | 
closely. We both screamed and ran down to 
the prisoner. Five of the savages jumped into 
acanoe. Itold Friday to fire at them while I 
set the poor prisoner free. 

As soon as I had cut the bands that held the 
white man and he had gotten over his fright 


NEW TROUBLE. 103 


somewhat, he was able to help us fight. the 
savages. Only four got away in a canoe and 
one of these was wounded. ‘The others were 
all killed, 

Friday wanted very much that I should fol- 
low the four in the canoe, and I also wished to 
do so, that no savages might be left to carry 
the news to their home. [If they were to hear 
of this, great numbers might come over and kill 
us; so I ran to one of the canoes, jumped in and © 
told Friday to follow me. as 


104 ROBINSON CRUSOB. 


A HAPPY MEETING. 


Imagine my surprise on jumping into the 
boat to find another prisoner, bound hand and 
foot, and almost dead with fright. He was ly- 
ing in the bottom of the canoe. 

I cut the ropes which bound him and tried 
to raise him up, but he could neither sit nor 
speak. He groaned piteously, for he thought 
that he had been unloosed to be killed. 

I told Friday to speak to him and tell him 
that we were hisfriends. Friday did so, and the 
prisoner then sat up inthe boat. Friday stared 
at him a moment, then threw his arms around 
him, kissing and hugging him, and crying, 
jumping, laughing, dancing, and singing by 
turns. It was some time before I could get 
him to speak to me and tell me what was the 
matter. At last he cried, ‘‘Oh, sir, my father.’’ 

This meeting of father and son put an end 


A HApPy MEETING. 105 


to following the savages, for they were now 
nearly out of sight. | 

I was glad afterward that we had not gone, 
for a great storm of wind arose, and there 
seemed very little doubt that the savages who 
were in the boat must have been drowned. 

Friday was so busy taking care of his father 
that I did not like to call him away. At last 
I asked him if he had given his father any 
bread. He shook his head and said, ‘‘ None; 
ugly dog eat all up self.”’ 

So I gave him a piece of bread and a hand- 
ful of raisins for his father. He gave these to 
him, then jumped out of the boat and ran off as 
fast as he could go. Icalled after him but he 
did not stop. 

In a quarter of an hour I saw him coming 
. back. As he came near I saw that he must 
have been. home, for he carried a jug of water 
and two loaves of bread. He gave the bread 
to me and carried the water to his father. The 
water helped his father more than anything 
else Friday had done for him, for he was faint 
from thirst. 


106 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


After Friday had given his father a drink I 
asked him if there was any water left. He 
said, ‘‘ Yes, master;’’? so I told him to give the 
poor white man some. 

The white man was lying in the shade of a 
tree, very weak. Friday gave him the water 
and some bread, which revived him. I went to 
him and gave him some raisins. 

This prisoner,who was a Spaniard, was very 
grateful. As soon as he had eaten he tried to 
stand, but he was unable to do so, for his 
ankles were very badly swollen and pained him 
severely. 

I wanted to take the strangers home with 
me but did not know how to carry them there. 
Friday said that he could get them part way 
home,at any rate. He picked up the Spaniard, 
carried him to the canoe and placed him beside 
his father; then he rowed along the shore and 
up the creek. He left them here and ran back 
for the other canoe, in which he brought me. 

Then he helped the guests out of the boat 
and set them down on the bank. 

He could not tell what to do with them now, 


A HAPPY MEETING. 107 


but I had been planning for this, and I called to 
Friday to come and help me to make a litter 
of the branches of trees. On this we carried 
the men home. 

We could not get them over the fence, so we 
made a tent outside and covered it with old 
sails, over which we placed boughs of trees. 
In this tent I made two good beds of rice straw, 
with blankets for covers. 

This being done I prepared some meat soup 
and put rice and whole wheat into it. When it 
was done we set a table in the new tent and all 
dined there together. 

The Spaniard had been so long among the 
savages that he spoke their language quite 
well, so that Friday could understand him and 
could tell me what the two guests said. 

After supper Friday went after the two guns 
which had been left on the battle-field, and the 
next day he buried the dead bodies and the re- 
mains of the dreadful feast. 


108 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


GETTING READY FOR: MORE GUESTS: 


A few weeks later I began to think once 
more of going over to Friday’s old home. His 
father told me that I might be very sure that 
the people would treat me well, after my kind 
ness to him. 3 

I talked with the Spaniard about it, and 
learned from him that there were sixteen white 
men living with this tribe of Indians. They 
had been well treated by the savages, but it 
was very hard to get enough food and clothing 
to keep them alive. 

_ The Spaniard wanted very much to bring 
them to my island if Iwere willing. I felt very 
sorry for them, and, besides, I thought if we 
were all on the island, we might, by working 
together, make a ship in which we could sail 
home. 

But there were not enough provisions for so 
many, so we all set to work and dug up a large 


MORE GUESTS. 109 


piece of ground and sowed all the seed that 
could be spared. Friday’s father and the 
Spaniard planned to go back for the white 
men after the harvest. 

While the crops were growing, I set the men 
at work cutting down oak trees and making 
them into planks for the ship, which I hoped 
we might some time build. 

We also caught several goats which were 
added to my flock, and we gathered and dried 
a great many grapes. 

It was now harvest time. From the twenty- 
two bushels of wheat sown, two hundred and 
twenty bushels were gathered, and the rice crop 
was as good as that of the wheat. A great 
many baskets had to be made in which to store 
so much grain. 

We had a good supply of provisions on hand 
now, and Friday’s father and the Spaniard were 
ready to start back. I gave each of them a gun 
and about eight charges of powder and balls, 
and told them not to use these unless it should 
be very necessary. | 

They took on board bread and raisins enough 


110 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


to last them a long time, and supply all the 
Spaniards about eight days. 

They promised to hang out a flag on their 
boat when they came back so that we might 
know who they were, long before they reached 
the island. 


ANOTHER SURPRISE. 11] 


ANOTHER SURPRISE. 


Eight days had passed since the Spaniard 
and the old Indian left the island. On the 
morning of the ninth I was fast asleep in my 
cabin when Friday ran to me and said, ‘‘ Mas- 
ter, master, they are come, they are come!” 

When I heard this I dressed quickly and 
ran down toward the shore, but I soon saw 
that this was not the boat we were looking for. 
I called Friday to me and told him to keep out 
of sight of the crew of the boat. 

Then I got my glass and went up the hill 
where I could look without being seen. 

Lying south of the island wasa shiz. Yes, 
and it was an English ship, and the boat was 
an English boat manned by English sailors. 
What a joyful sight ! 

Friday and I went down to the shore to the 
boat, in which were the captain and two other 
officers of the ship. These men were very much 


112 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


surprised to find human beings on the island. 
I told them how I came to be here and how 
I had been longing these many years to see my 
home and my parents. 

The captain offered to take Friday and me 
to England and I was very happy at the 
thought of seeing my father and mother 
again. 

I told Friday that he might stay if he wished 
to, and live with the Spaniards, or take a canoe 
and go home, but he chose to go with me, for he 
knew that his father was free now and among 
his own people, and he had come to think 
that I could not live without him. 

T left a letter for the Spaniards telling them 
that I would send word to their countrymen 
where they could be found. I left them my 
guns and ammunition, also. 

I took home with me, as relics, my goat-skin 
cap, my umbrella, and one of my parrots. Ialso 
took the bag of money, which would now be 
worth something tome. Icould not help but 
feel sad when I bade a last farewell to my 
island-home—-my cave, my vineyard and or- 


ANOTHER SURPRISE. lis 


chard which I had planted, my tame goats, and 
my parrots. They had all become dear to 
me. 

Thad lived upon the island more than twenty- 
eight years. 


* 


114 ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


HOME AGAIN. 


After sailing seven weeks the ship rode into 
the harbor from which I had set sail so many 
years before. Everything was strange to F'ri- 
day, and he did not know what to make of it 
all. He asked many questions, but I was so 
busy thinking about my father and mother that 
I did not answer all of them. 

I hurried from the ship, telling Friday to fol- 
low me. When nearly home [asked a man whom 
I met about my parents. He told me that my 
father was still living, but my mother had died 
from sorrow over the loss of her boy. When I 
heard this I cried aloud. ; 

On reaching home I opened the door into 
my father’s room. There he sat, the poor old 
man, in his arm chair, his Bible open on a table 
near by. 

I hastened to him and cried in a trembling 
voice, ‘‘Father, father, do you not know your 
son? It is I, your boy Robinson!’’ 


_ 
HOME AGAIN. V15 


“Can it, oh, can it be my son?” said my 
father, feebly. ‘‘Can it be my boy has come 
back?’’? And he drew me lovingly to his breast. 
After that he could not bear that I should be 
out of his sight. 

But my relatives and friends heard that ] 
was at home, and flocked to see me. I had to 
tell the story of my shipwreck and of my life 
on the island until late into the night. 

When I had ended I said, ‘‘You see I have 
had a hard time, and all because I would not 
obey my parents and was lazy when I was a 
Dove 

From this time on, Friday and I lived a quiet 
life. I took charge of my father’s business and 
Friday helped me. But I never forgot to be 
erateful to God for keeping me through so 
many dangers. 


116 


¢ 


ROBINSON CRUSOR. 


ROBINSON ON HIS ISLAND. 


‘“T am monarch of all I survey; 
My right there is none to dispute; 
From the center all ’round to the sea 
I am lord of the fowl and the brute. 
O, Solitude, where are the charms 
That sages have seen in thy face? 
Better dwell in the midst of alarms, 
Than reign in this horrible place. 


“T am out of humanity’s reach; 

I must finish my journey alone; 

Never hear the sweet music of speech: 
I start at the sound of my own! 

The beasts that roam over the plain 
My form with indifference see; 

They are so unacquainted with man, 
Their tameness is shocking to me. 


“Society, Friendship, and Love, 
Divinely bestowed upon man, 
Oh, had I the wings of a dove 
How soon would I taste you again! 
My sorrows I might then assuage, 
In the ways of religion and truth; 
Might learn from the wisdom of age, 
And be cheered by the sallies of youth. 


ON His 1:SLAND. 117 


‘Ye winds that have made me your sport, 
Convey to this desolate shore 

Some cordial, endearing report 
Of a land I shall visit no more. 

My friends—do they now and then send 
A wish or a thought after me? 

Oh, tell me I yet have a friend, 
Though a friend I am never to see. 


‘How fleet is a glance of the mind! 
Compared with the speed of its flight 
The tempest itself lags behind, 
And the swift-wingéd arrows of light. 
When I think of my own native land, 
In a moment I seem to be there; 
But, alas! recollection at hand 
Soon hurries me back to despair. 


‘But the sea-fowl has gone to her nest, 
The beast is laid down in his lair; 
Even here is a season of rest, 
And I to my cabin repair. 
There’s mercy in every place, 
And mercy—encouraging thought— 
Gives even affliction a grace, 
And reconciles man to his lot.”’ 
- -William Cowper. 


APPENDIX. 


THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


Without doubt there is a most favorable period in 
every child’s life for the reading of each book. If offered 
to him at just the right age, it appeals to his nature 
with peculiar power, even to the extent of setting him 
on fire; if offered at any other time it may prove inter- 
esting, but it fails to become such a potent factor in 
his life. There would be a wonderful economy of effort 
*f the books selected for children were always given 
them at this most suitable age. The German Herbart- 
ians place the story of Robinson Crusoe in the second 
school year. The authors of this book use it through- 
out the second year for oral presentation and repro- 
duction; and in the latter part of the second, or in the 
third year of schoolasa reader. Its exact place inthe 
school course is a matter of dispute, some teachers 
deeming it too difficult for the first term of the second 
year. 

The primary object in teaching this story is the de- 
velopment of good character. The development of 
good character is the highest purpose of school in- 
struction; and since literature deals with human char- 
acter, with the actions and motives of men, more than 
does any other school study unless perhaps history, it 
stands directly related to this high purpose. The story 
of Crusoe has plainly a great value in this direction. 
Stating the case briefly, we have in this narrative the 
history of the downfall of a human being and of his 


2 APPENDIX. 


gradual rise again through laborious effort, until he is 
respected and loved. Robinson became a lazy, worth- 
less, ungrateful boy. But after running away and suf- 
fering shipwreck, his character begins to change. That 
heedless fellow offers a prayer of thanksgiving, that 
his life is spared while his companions are all drowned 
in the storm. His loneliness on the island makes him 
reflective, and his fear of wild beasts, together with 
his sense of need, produces a feeling of dependence on 
God. The first night on the island finds him uttering a 
prayer for protection. 

The absence of companions, and of the usual environ- 
ment for human beings, has the same effect upon him 
as upon John the Baptist when he sought the wilder- 
ness; 7. e., it frees his mind largely from petty matters 
and allows it to be seriously occupied with his relation- 
ship to God. He naturally comes to reflect upon God’s 
goodness,to read His word, and to worship Him in prayer. 
In his sickness he approaches especially near to his 
Maker, and after years of growth we find his nature so 
changed that he becomes a true missionary and teaches 
the savage Friday about God. The story unfolds this 
Christian development in such a natural manner that 
it can be easily comprehended and appreciated by chil- 
dren, and it is therefore likely to have a permanent ef- 
fect upon their characters. 

The value of family life and companionship is an- 
other prominent point in the story. Robinson’s absence 
from home taught him how to value his parents and 
friends. His home-sickness was no doubt as sincere as 
that which has afflicted many of us. Especially at the 
time of his illness did he long for his mother, and at all 
times he was conscious of the need of companions. His 
pets, 2. e., the parrot, his dog Barry, and the goats, 


APPENDIX. 3 


were his sole friends, and his conversation with them 
excites our pity. The joy with which he welcomes Fri- 
day, and talks with him by the rudest signs, proves his 
appreciation of a human being. Instead of leading a 
boy to run away from home, the narrative engenders a 
love of home; it presents a character that frequently 
feels an intense longing for parents and friends, and 
dwells upon the enjoyments he might be having with 
them had he not been so ungrateful and foolish as to 
leave them. 

The economic advantages of society also receive a 
remarkable emphasis; indeed this element of worth in 
the story is so evident that it has seemed to many its 
greatest merit. When Robinson must find and prepare 
his own food, must be his own potter, his own carpen- 
ter, tailor, etc., continually blundering on account of 
ignorance, he discovers and appreciates the relation- 
ship which men properly bear to one another in society. 
They are not mutual enemies struggling against one 
another, but mutual friends giving needed aid; society 
then appears as one of the great advances that civiliza- 
tion has made; and children, living the experiences of 
Robinson with him, are led early to assume a friendly 
attitude towards the people about them. Thus the 
story tends to produce reverence for God and a high 
appreciation of parents, friends, and society; charac- 
ter is thereby ennobled. 

The fact that these points are not dwelt upon con- 
tinually, but come up only occasionally, is not a weak- 
ness, but one of the chief merits of the story. The effect 
of instruction upon character is not dependent upon the 
number of moral truths presented, or upon the fre- 
quency with which they are brought forward. If it 
were so, many achild would become entirely good ina 


4 APPENDIX. 


single recitation, for the whole category of virtues is 
there reviewed—but it depends upon the force with which 
a few truths are presented. Many cannot be taught 
effectively. There is no point in which there is a more 
striking contrast between Sunday-school teachers and 
novelists than in the number of moral maxims they 
dare suggest to learners; the former trust to quantity 
and believe in haste and repetition; the latter feel the 
demand for wonderful delicacy, and realize that only 
those truths that are clearly understood and highly ap- 
preciated can have great permanent worth; they there- 
fore attempt but little and take great pains withit. A 
good novelist writes a whole book to teach what many 
an instructor would give to a child in five minutes. The 
ethical thoughts in the story of Crusoe, if they prove 
effective, owe that fact to their infrequency and to the 
great care, 7. €., the naturalness, with which they are 
presented. The child really living the scenes described, 
has the emotions of Crusoe and feels his convictions. The 
extent to which he does this determines the worth of 
the story as an agent in character development. 

The story furnishes, further, the proper kind of ex- 
ercise for the imagination. It is important that each 
year of the primary school offer abundant opportunity 
for the play of fancy, because there is thus preserved 
than mobility among ideas which is sucha striking char- 
acteristic of the little child as he enters school. At the 
same time, as he grows older, provision should be made 
for taming the fancy somewhat; that mental tendency 
should continue as active as ever, but the combination 
of ideas made should be more and more controlled by 
reason. The story of Crusoe appeals to the reason in 
the right degree; it allows great activity of the imag- 
ination, but demands that it be practical. While the 


APPENDIX. 5 


pupil in the first grade has been permitted to wander 
at will in fairy tales, never caring for what is prob- 
able or even possible, the pupil who studies Crusoe is 
continually bumping against impossibilities, realities. 
. He finds himself constrained to picture only that which 
is possible for his hero, often giving up what he would 
like to see accomplished simply because it cannot be 
done. Thus there is developed what is happily called 
the practical imagination. In later life we are often 
required to be stern in our appreciation of realities and 
to employ our imaginative powers only in constructing 
that which is capable of full realization. From the 
period of childhood, long continued growth is necessary 
before this point can be reached. Crusoe can stand 
for an important step in that development. 

The language value of the narrative is plain. The 
interest it arouses furnishes a motive for talking and 
writing on the part of the pupils, and when once pupils 
really have something to say, it is comparatively easy 
for the teacher to lead them to express themselves 
properly, either orally or on paper. 

The three merits of this story that have been men- 
tioned, 7.e., its ability to ennoble character, to exercise 
the imagination suitably, and to develop the power of 
expression, can be appreciated in the highest degree 
and will prove most effective when the teacher aims di- 
rectly at a deep interest in the story, at a love for it, 
and consequently at a love for literature in general. 
The teacher of literature very often aims only at the 
understanding of a selection; she feels that when the 
children know the definitions of the words and can ex- 
plain the sense of the sentences and paragraphs, her 
work is accomplished. But the comprehension of a piece 
is very different from a love for it. The latter should 


APPENDIX. 


for) 


certainly be the teacher’s highest immediate object, 
for it is the condition under which the ultimate objects 
in the teaching of the story can be effected. The au- 
thors of this book have kept these thoughts in mind, 
and, in their discussion of method, have shown how in- 
terest, as the chief motive, greatly affects the questions 
put, and, in fact, every department of method. 

This book can be used by the pupils in the third 
grade asa reader, after the events of the story have > 
been developed and discussed in the regular study 
called literature. In the latter work it is only the 
teacher who needs the book at all; it will show her 
what parts of the story are suitable for school use, and 
how they can best be taught. Then after the pupils 
are acquainted with the facts, they can turn to their 
books to read them; their interest in the thought is 
still keen; and, as it offers no difficulties, nearly all of 
their effort can be directed to the expression of the 
thought through the printed symbols. Thus two dis- 
‘tinct lines of work, literature and reading, may run 
parallel, the latter being dependent upon the former 
and following after it. 

F. M. MCMURRY. 


Franklin School, Sept. 15, 1894, Buffalo, N. Y. 


APPENDIX. f 


METHOD OF TEACHING ROBINSON CRUSOE. 


“The indestructible vitality of this book must be 
sought, not alone in the entertainment it affords, but 
chiefly in its symbolism. There can be no doubt that 
Robinson’s experiences possess a deep symbolic mean- 
ing. His life upon the lonely island is in a certain sense 
the life of mankind, which, launched, as it were, into ex- 
istence upon earth with but scanty equipment, by the 
exercise of great ingenuity and at the expense of end- 
less hardships, in the course of history, converts the un- 
certain condition to which it awoke upon the dawn of 
self-consciousness, into one of passable comfort. ”— 
Rein. 

These words give us the key to the teacher’s atti- 
tude toward Robinson Crusoe as a literary masterpiece. 
The manner in which the teacher presents this classic 
to a class of children will depend chiefly upon how thor- 
oughly he is conscious of the ultimate aim of his work, 
and how truly he breathes the spirit of the story. The 
story may be used only as reading material, and the 
children will catch something of its spirit, grasp some 
‘of its symbolic meaning; or it may first be presented 
orally* also, and the children will live in ideal inter- 
- #* As reading material, the story is best suited in its present 
form to the third grade; if orally presented first, the story is suit- 
able for the average second grade. In the following discussion 
we shall have in mind chiefiy an oral presentation of Robinson 
Crusoe. Thus we shall not exclude anything of value to the 
teacher who prefers to use the work as reading matter only; 
while at the same time emphasizing and illustrating a form of 


early work in literature that as yet tinds but limited apprecia- 
tion viz., oral presentation. 


8 APPENDIX. 


course with Robinson and his environment. In either 
case, the teacher should realize that here is subject- 
matter eminently fitted to be educative in the broadest 
and deepest sense, but that it can be efficiently educa- 
tive only when he himself feels its inspiration, and rec- 
ognizes just wherein it instructs and uplifts. To meet 
this requirement the teacher must first, if possible, 
drink deep from the original fountain, De Foe’s own 
work, for it alone, in this case, can be the ‘‘teacher of 
teachers;”’ second, he must throw upon the tale the 
search-light of pedagogic insight to see what it re-. 
quires in his method of presentation. 

In his introductory chapter Dr. McMurry has stated 
the ultimate aim of this classic as used in school, to be 
one with the aim of education, viz., character-building; 
and that it comprehends not merely the ethical, but also 
the social, economic, and industrial relations of man. 
It is quite necessary for the teacher fully to appreci- 
ate the force of Robinson Crusoe along these lines, for 
his organization of the instruction will depend upon it. 
The story is, as it were, a simple philosophy of history, 
revealing certain of the simpler phases of man’s social 
and industrial growth, in the light of their moral sig- 
nificance. The teacher must be able to detect just 
what ethical, social, and economic conceptions under- 
lie the whole, where they are most forcibly developed, 
and where brought to a climax, so that he will be able 
to judge when they may best be brought out in instruc- 
tion, how and where they may be made to strengthen 
each other, and what arrangement will give the most 
natural succession. These considerations will go very 
far toward determining the objective point in the pre- 
-sentation of each section of the story. ‘‘ What am I 
working for here?” is the question the teacher should 


APPENDIX. +8) 


have clearly settled in his own mind before attempting 
to discuss any organic part of the story with a class. 
Thus, e. g., the topic, which we shall treat more fully 
further on, ‘‘ Robinson in His New Home,” may have a 
variety of possible objective points; but two seem espe- 
cially fitting at this juncture of the story. First, the 
story here may be made to set forth forcibly that Rob- 
inson was reaping as he had sowed, and that he would 
far better have honored his father and mother; here 
we have a climax, as it were, of all that has gone be- 
fore; the preceding ethical conceptions have one by 
one led up to this thought in natural sequence. But, 
second, these very ethical conceptions now introduce 
us to conditions in Robinson’s physical environment 
that determine the entire further development of the 
story and the growth of certain social and economic 
conceptions;:é. g., this part of the story teaches at once 
how man, isolated, 7. e., apart from institutional life of 
any kind whatever, is at the mercy of the somewhat 
doubtful, often crude, bounty of nature; while at the 
same time it points directly to conceptions of man’s eco- 
nomic, social, and industrial growth as soon as he be- 
gins to develop his arts by the transformation of na- 
ture’s raw materials and to perfect them by the divi- 
sion of labor,—-conceptions, however, which can only 
be had much later in the story, though they begin to 
develop as soon as Robinson touches the island. 

Lack of space prevents a rehearsal of all the under- 
lying conceptions. The following are the most impor- 
tant ethical relations: The opening chapters involve 
chiefly the ideas of diligence and idleness, obedience 
and disobedience, filial and parental love, the feeling of 
dependence upon a Higher Being, the love and care of 
the Creator and gratitude toward Him. Somewhat later 


10 . APPENDIX. 


appear the ideas of man’s higher duties toward him- 
self, toward his fellow men, and the brute world. One 
does not have to enter far into the story, however, be- 
fore realizing, as pointed out in the introduction, that 
these ideas gather strength by constant re-exemplifica- 
tion. It is not the idea that the teacher shall preach 
these moral lessons, but rather so guide the instruction 
that they shall shine through with a clearer light at 
each step. Let us also.call to mind, in this connection, 
that many of the ethical ideas enumerated above re- 
call our commonest sayings and proverbs, whichalways 
express so pithily the homeliest and yet often most es- 
sential of human obligations, e.g.: ‘‘Honor thy father 
and mother,” ‘‘Idleness is the parent of vice,” “‘Satan 
finds some mischief still for idle hands to do,” “Give us 
this day our daily bread,” ‘‘Love thy neighbor as thy- 
self.” One of the charms in Robinson’s story is that it 
is able to hold our interest in spite of the fact that the 
hero (?) himself is but the commonest of men, without 
even a profession, a special talent, an accomplishment, 
or a “‘fad, ’to entertain us. His life appeals directly to 
the common, practical and moral consciousness of 
every human heart; it should do so in instruction. 
Among the social and economic conceptions directly 
involved in the development of the story are those of 
apprenticeship, maritime commerce, money, the rela- 
tions of home to child, division of labor and the at- 
tendant development and perfection of human arts, the 
calendar, means of human intercourse, dependence of 
man and his occupations upon environment, man’s 
relations to plant and animal life, etc. ‘‘What,” you 
ask, ‘‘are these problems in Robinson Crusoe?” Yes, 
they are all fibres of the main theme; Robinson Crusoe 
could not have been written without directly appealing 


APPENDIX. 11 


to our notions of just these phases of human develop- 
ment. Yet it deals with them in their simplest form, 
never marring the charm of the narrative or detracting 
from the interest. It but remains for the teacher so to 
guide the instruction, that certain very significant so- 
cial and economic thoughts stand out in bold relief be- 
fore the child’s mentalvision. Here again, the teacher 
must exercise great care in selection and arrangement; 
not everything and anything, but rather a few well de- 
fined fundamental notions. For instance, the first chap- 
ters constantly emphasize the value to man of certain 
social institutions, such as the family, companionship, 
education, trade, etc. This part of the story, then, is 
the most fitting place for a corresponding emphasis in 
instruction, leaving other thoughts for a more suitable 
opportunity. Later come a great many conceptions 
that find a center in the thought of man’s dependence 
on nature, and still later others that cluster around 
the thought of his industrial development. 

Thus far we have tried to show how the teacher 
should permit the ultimate aim in using the story to 
lead him to a thoughtful, analytic inspection of its 
thought-structure. 

Ordinarily, one of the most pains-taking tasks of the 
teacher is the division of his subject into a series of 
well-articulated topics or method-wholes, each one of 
which is a unity. These unities are determined in 
part by their own internal structure, in part by their 
relation to the whole story; for they should both con- 
tain some central unifying interest and constitute or- 
ganic links of the larger whole. This work has been 
happily accomplished in the accompanying text by the 
division into short chapters, each of which has its own 
problem, its own center of,interest, and makes an es- 


12 APPENDIX. 


sential contribution to the narrative as a whole. Asa 
rule, the teacher will do well to accept this division, al- 
though it may occasionally be found advisable, guided 
by the above requirements, to combine two successive 
chapters into a single topic, or to divide one into two. 

Let us now arrive at some of the further details of _ 
method, by arranging one of these topics or method- 
wholes about as it would be thought out by the teacher 


in preparing to present it to a class of second-grade 
children: 


ROBINSON IN H1s NEW HOME. 


Aim.—Let us find out next where Robinson was and 
what happened to him after the shipwreck. (This aim 
is designed especially to make the connection with pre- 
vious instruction and to arouse thought in the children 
concerning Robinson’s present condition.) 

Preparation and Presentation.—(Which,in the develop- 
ing form of presentation, discussed later, must move 
along together.) 

I. Where had the waves thrown Robinson during the 
shipwreck? How was he able to help himself? Do we 
know on what land he had beenthrown? Did Robinson? 
Did he care or think about that at first? What did he 
think of; do? (Gratitude to God; prayer.) His struggle 
in the water and on the rock had made him very tired. ~ 
What will he do next? (Rest.) And then? (Where he is.) | 
(His comrades.) If he thinks of them, he will want to 
find them. He sees no one near him. What will he 
do? (Gotolook forthem.) Yes, and now he begins to 
look about him to see what kind of a country he is in. 
He is by the rocks near the water, but further up on 
the land what will he see? (Trees, bushes.) But no 
houses, no people belonging to the country. Where will 
he look for his comrades? (Along the shore, by the 
rocks, under trees, etc.) Yet he finds noone. Can he 
try to find them in any other way? What can you do 
when you want to find where some one is whom you do 
not see? (Call aloud.) But as soon as Robinson called 
aloud once, he felt afraid. Why? (The echo of his 


APPENDIX. i3 


voice. Indians, wild animals, will hear.) Where could 
wild animals be? (Bushes, trees.) How could they fina 
him? (Hear his shouting and calling.) He stops shout- 
ing, for he is afraid; but thinking of wild animals has 
made him afraid to do something else? (To go too far.) 

How do most men travel safely where wild animals 
are? (Guns, etc.) How about Robinson? (Has none.) 
What has he? (Only his clothes, shirt, coat, trousers, 
stockings, shoes.) His hat? (Lostin the sea.) Ashe 
has nothing to protect him, he will not go far. 

How long has Robinson been on the land? How long 
did the storm last? How long since he had eaten? Now 
he will begin to feel——? (Hungry, thirsty.) What can 
you do when you are hungry and thirsty? But Robin- 
son? Is there away for him to get food? (Hunt for it.) 
What can he hunt for? (Berries, fruits, nuts.) But we 
know he is afraid; why? He only goes a little way and 
can find nothing toeat. It is almost night, too. Heis 
still more afraid——? 

What do you do every night ? Why? (Tired, sleepy.) 
Is Robinson now, too? Why? Where shall he sleep ? 
(Grass, trees, etc.) Which place will be best? Why? 
There is something he will surely think of before he 
goes to sleep (His home, parents, prayer to God.) 

1st Reproduction of the story thus far developed by the 

upils. 
5 TT. Sub-aim-—-W hat becomes of the hungry and thirsty 
Robinson? (The children express their surmises. The 
teacher, starting with their thoughts, proceeds to de- 
velop the events of the second day as above, depicting 
Robinson’s awakening in the morning, his first feelings 
and thoughts, the scene of the bright, joyous day about 
him, his renewed search for food and its vain outcome, 
his determination to seek elsewhere, how he arms him- 
self and wanders off, finally discovering the fruits, corn, 
a sweet spring, etc. There must beaconstant contrast 
between the children’s own resources at home and Rob- 
inson’s on the island, between the ease with which they 
can obtain and the pains he must take to get a little.) 
2d Reproduction of the foregoing by the pupils. 

III. Sub-aim-—(Preserve connection here with the first 

or mainaim.) Do we know yet what kind of a land 


4 ; APPENDIX. 


Robinson is on? That is what we shall learn next. 
(Developing as before, the teacher proceeds to show 
how Robinson finds out about the land; he depicts Rob- 
inson’s ascent of the mountain, and what he sees about 
him, the land surrounded on all sides by water, the 
scenery of the island; the children realize with Robinson 
that he is entirely cut off from the rest of the world, 
that he must now provide for his own safety and living, 
especially that he must find a better place to sleep, etc.) 

8d Reproduction of the foregoing. 

Total Reproduction of the entire method whole. 


In the above it has been assumed that at least one 
of the three suhb-divisions of the topic could be devel- 
oped and reproduced in a single recitation. But under 
different circumstances from those assumed above,more 
and possibly less might be necessary. Let the stopping 
place in each case be a natural point of rest. Let the 
reproduction be frequent enough, and repeated often 
enough, to insure a mastery of the story. Each recita- 
tion should open, after the statement of its aim, with 
a reproduction of the work of the preceding lesson, and 
close with a reproduction of its own. We will not dis- 
miss our topic, however, with a satisfactory total re- 
production. Alas for him who has never been taught 
to reflect upon the literature he absorbs, but who dissi- 
pates merely in the amusement it affords him. A re- 
flection upon this topic 'as a whole may be directed 
along two lines of comparison and generalization: (1) 
that of its ethical significance and (2) that of its social 
and economic significance. In the remainder of the 
exercise, therefore, the final steps will appear twice.. 


1st Comparison (both of Robinson’s acts with each 
other and with those of other characters krown to the 
children.) How has Robinson been getting along since 
he ran away from home? Has he been happy? Why 
not? What evil things have happened to him? (Sick- 
ness, storm, shipwreck, dangers, thirst, hunger, soli- 


APPENDIX. sae AD 


tude.) Who is to blame for his being where danger can 
overtake him? Did he know better? Had anyone tried 
to teach him better? Did his father and mother know 
better than he what was good for him? Have you ever 
heard of anyone else who did as Robinson did? (Little 
Red Riding-Hood will be cited, perhaps; as many simi- 
lar cases as possible are desirable.) How were they 
alike? What waswrong in both? (Have the child cite 
concrete cases as the basis of his judgment; this leads 
directly to the fourth main step.) 

Ist Generalization.—What should we all do? We 
should do as our parents think best and feel thankful 
toward them. A long time ago this same thing was 
said in these few words: ‘‘Honor thy father and 
thy mother.” 

2d Comparison.— (The children now recall the circum- 
stances surrounding Robinson in his new life, the pains 
he has had to find a bed and food, that his food must 
all be eaten raw, that [for the ship is still undiscov- 
ered] he has nothing to do with; in his sorrow, too, he 
is alone, cut off from the kind words and loving sympa- 
thy of others; there is no one to help him, to talk to 
him, to advise him, to play with him. And why?) If 
we wish food, what do we do? How do we buy it? How 
do we get the money? Could Robinson get money and 
buy things? Why not? If he had money now, would it 
help him? Why not? Even if weare in astrange town, 
where we have no friends, we can buy food and a good 
place to sleep. How? But Robinson? 

To whom can we go when we are tired, hurt, sad, or 
in trouble? If we are lonesome, what can we do? Could 
Robinson? Why not? 

2d Generalization.—W hy, then, should we not like to be 
left alone in the world as Robinson was? We should 
lose all the good things men can do for each other. 
When we live together we need not be alone, we can 
help each other, work for each other, earn money and 
buy what we need. 


In the foregoing exercise, we have tried to illustrate 
certain specific points of method. Probably in no in- 
stance would the questions and answers develop just as 


16 APPENDIX. 


indicated above. More questions will undoubtedly be 
required, and the entire development will have to be 
adapted to the needs of the individual class and pupil. 
The mechanical organization of the exercise, further- 
more, appears only to the teacher; the pupil is, should 
be, unconscious of the teacher’s plan as shown above. 
He merely absorbs the story and reflects upon it. But 
let us look for that which the exercise seeks to typify. 

1. We have sought toexemplify the proper articula- 
tion of the instruction. This entire section of the 
story is too long to be presented without pausing for a 
reproduction by the pupils. Hence it was arranged 
in three sub-divisions. Each sub-division should be so 
chosen that it will reach some height or climax of in- 
terest and pause directly at some suitable point of rest. 
Compare with the exercise. 

2. In the above exercise we have presupposed the 
use of a developing form of instruction; 7.¢.,the teacher 
tells only so much of the story as will suffice to start it 
or help the pupil over difficult thoughts; otherwise he 
seeks, so far as possible, to let the class construct the 
story for themselves by putting them in possession 
of each successive situation. By this means they de- 
termine one event after another as the natural out- 
come of the given conditions. They live the story them- 
selves. They do just what everyone does in reading a 
story in which he is deeply absorbed,—take a keen de- 
light in the anticipation of impending events. It is 
well worth the child’s while thus to live the story in the 
sympathetic play of his own self-activity. Well man- 
aged, a developing presentation should leave the child 
the more thoroughly master of the story. But it may 
be abused. It is easy to lose control of the develop- 
ment and let it degenerate into a mere pumping of an- 


APPENDIX. 4 


swers by leading questions; or it may as easily become 
a mere guessing contest. The only remedy in either 
case is to determine whether the pupils are getting full 
possession of the situation or not, or to have a brief re- 
course to direct narrative. The latter, in fact, will 
often appear temporarily during the process of devel- 
opment. Questions are not the only instruments avail- 
able in this form of instruction; a slight hint, word, or 
remark, a gesture or expressive tone often serve the 
purpose best. The teacher should cultivate first,skill in 
vivid oral narrative; this, once acquired, will gradually 
drift into a conversational or developing form. 

3. If the teacher prefers a narrative form of pre- 
sentation, his steps in method will be: Aim; prepara- 
tory discussion of the familiar thoughts suggested by 
the aim and with reference to preceding events of the 
story; vivid oral narrative (section by section); discus- 
sion of the narrative and reproduction (after each sec- 
tion); total reproduction; thence as in the illustration 
above. 

4. The final steps illustrate how the pupils, after 
thoroughly absorbing the story, may be led to reflect 
upon its meaning, to pass judgment upon certain of its 
ethical, social, and economic relations, and to compare 
the latter with similar known cases in other stories or 
from the child’s own life (reflection and comparison). 
The step of generalization then closes the process be- 
ginning with comparison, by giving a universal, or if 
possible proverbial, expression to the resulting truths. 
Let these final steps be carefully worked out, but not 
at too great length. If the class has mastered the 
story, they will already be aware of certain truths in- 
volved, although unable, perhaps, to give them lan- 
guage expression. These steps are merely designedt 


18 APPENDIX. 


help the child to an expression of the universal mean- 
ing of the story, no more. A few questions will lead 
him to the goal in all sincerity; beyond this,beware the 
shoals of moral sentimentality! 

Oral instruction in literature, as well as reading, re- 
quires close attention to the detailed technique of in- 
struction. Insist upon good English in the child’s re- 
production—not all at once, but methodically and per- 
sistently. Give help freely here, when necessary, es- 
pecially at first. Seek above all to preserve what al- 
most every child develops naturally, an easy, spon- 
taneous, unaffected but expressive flow of language. 
Have trequent recourse to chalk and moulding board 
to develop clear concepts of physical relations; let the 
children use these means of expression. Draw only 
upon the child’s sphere of experiences in describing or 
narrating. Many of these scenes at first are strange 
and require care if they become intelligible to the 
child. 

We may fittingly close this chapter on method with 
a brief reference to the abundant material which the 
story of Robinson suggests along other lines of work 
not directly involved in the presentation of the narra- , 
tive. The teacher who would give some attention to 
the theory of concentration finds Robinson’s story a 
most natural and attractive center for the second 
year’s work. We can but summarize some of the avail- 
able material below: 


a.) Geographical material: The stars; points of the 
compass; direction of Robinson’s journey from the 
child’s home and places named in the story; climate of 
Robinson’s island contrasted with that of child’s home; 
seasons and divisions of the year; Robinson’s island 
moulded in sand and furnished so far as possible; home 
landscape, etc., compared with Robinson’s island. 


APPENDIX. 19 


b.) Natural Science material: Fire, light; building 
stone, quarry, lime, clay, porcelain, glass, iron, etc.; 
the field, grain, corn, rice; the forest, forest trees and 
flowers, building wood; the meadow, meadow flowers; 
domestic animals, their life and uses, animals of forest 
and chase, birds, meadow animals, herds, water ani- 
mals, etc. 

c.) Number material: Robinson reckons time, meas- 
ures his fields, etc. 

d.) Written language: Robinson writes in his diary, 
SUC. 

The above comprehends more than a sufficient 
amount of material. The teacher will, of course, se- 
lect from this as best befits the season and the pupils’ 
own surroundings. The following gives a summary of 
some of the chief industrial and economic material, 
though of course not in the order it appears in the 
story: 

a.) How man provides for his dwelling. 

House building, quarry, mason, carpenter. 

b.) How he provides for his food. 

Agriculture, miller and mill, baker and baking, 
fisher and fishing, hunter and hunting, grazing. 
c.) How he provides for his clothing. 
Tailor, weaver, shoemaker, tanner. 

d.) How he provides for his comfort. 
Cabinet maker, basket maker, potter. 

e.) The intercourse of men with one another. 
Journeys, streets, highways, etc. Work and di- 
vision of labor. School, church, state, etc. Money. 


C. C. VAN LIEW. 
Normal, Illinois. 


